'Defund the Police' campaign is to blame for nationwide crime spree, retired police chief warns

The Defund the Police campaign is to blame for crime levels spiking, putting people off becoming cops and leaving forces burned out, retired police chiefs have warned. Retired police chief Jeff Rasche said when officers are spread thin, there are longer response times, and when they having to work overtime, there is less time for much-needed training. Meanwhile Retired Fort Worth police chief Jeff Halstead, said morale is the lowest he's ever seen in his 30 years on the force - and said it's because officers feel their profession has been demonized, and they are concerned about being indicted criminally The movement, which led to violent clashes with officers last year, brought about the dangerous 'ripple effects' across the sector, the former top officers said Retired police chief Jeff Rasche told Fox News Digital that when officers are spread thin, there will be longer response times, and when officers are having to work overtime, there is less time for much-needed training. A participant holds a Defund NYPD sign at the protest in New York City in 2020 United States Park Police pushes back protestors near the White House on June 1, 2020 as demonstrations against George Floyd's death continue 'With public safety and law enforcement, you can't just turn the lights off and go home,' Rasche told Fox News Digital. Robberies soar by 13% and aggravated assaults by 2.6% in big U.S. cities so far this year: Concern over violent crime is set to drive voter turnout in midterms Major U.S. cities have seen an alarming spike in robberies and assaults this year and murder rates are holding high, police chiefs warn — as concern over violent crime is set to drive voter turnout in the upcoming midterm elections.