Today, we honor and recognize the men and women who carry a badge or shield and don the uniform of a law enforcement agency. This is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day.
Statistics tell us that as of November 2024, there were 1.28 million police officers in the United States, serving in 17,985 agencies. Of the 1.28 million, 137,000 are “Feds.”1 As I write this, the U.S. population clock just showed that we have 342,994,305 million people in the United States.2 While 1.28 million law enforcement officers sounds like a lot, that equals out to only one officer for every 268 people. Only .4% of the population choose law enforcement as a career.
To give this a little perspective, New York City has a population of 8.48 million people. The NYPD is made up of 36,230 officers. This is very close to the national statistics of one officer per 268 people.
Why don’t we have more officers?!? I cannot say for sure but there are some good, educated guesses that can be made.
- Lack of respect. Have you seen the reels on social media where a person has been pulled over by police and decides this is their opportunity to become Constitutionalists and lawyers? The video is intended to be instructional, showing Joe Citizen how NOT to comply with law enforcement.
Unfortunately, a lack of respect for authority is nothing new. Throughout American history, you can see eras where the authority was challenged, mocked, and ridiculed.
- Woke culture. Our woke culture applauds this lack of respect towards law
enforcement. Law enforcement is treated like they are the enemy to our freedoms. Laws are passed that effectively tie the hands of law enforcement, keeping them from being as effective as they could be and blaming them for when something happens that is less than desirable.
A suspect is injured or dies while being pursued. The blame is placed on the police, not on the person who broke the law. Here’s a novel thought – if the perpetrator would have been doing what they were supposed to be doing, none of this would have happened.
- Lack of funding. Police are NEVER paid enough. This is true for all public servants. Society expects them to serve and protect but doesn’t want to compensate them for the high risk jobs they do.
Agencies lacking funding cannot supply deserved pay raises nor can they bring on more personnel.
- Bad examples. There are some bad cops who allow the power to go to their heads and have brought a black eye to the profession. Newsflash! There are bad employees and employers in every profession. The scandals do not make the profession evil. MOST people serving in all professions are good, honest, decent people. We cannot let the extremely small number of bad ones sour us on all the many good ones. Why should 1% taint our feelings about the 99%?
I’m sure that there are other reasons that could be given that are affecting the numbers of active law enforcement officers as well as the rate of retiring officers. “More officers are leaving their jobs, with a 2.5% increase from 2019 to 2020. Then, resignations jumped almost 40% in 2021 and another 14% in 2022. But, in 2023, resignations dropped by 21.6%, though they were 28.6% higher than in 2019.
“Retirements have also been a problem, with a nearly 30% increase from 2019 to 2020. Then, there was a decrease of more than 5% in 2021 and an increase of almost 8% in 2022. In 2023, retirements went down by almost 24%, but were about 1% higher than in 2019.”3 These numbers obviously flex based on what political party is in charge of the White House and legislature. During 2020-2024, there was an obvious anti-police stance coming from Washington, D.C.
We need to celebrate law enforcement and recognize them for who they are – the authorities placed by God into our lives. Romans 13:1-4 reminds us, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. (2) Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”
Back the Blue, believers. Reach out to a police officer today and thank them for their service. “For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. (7) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:6-7)
1https://policepathfinder.com/how-many-police-officers-in-the-us/
2https://www.census.gov/popclock/
3https://policepathfinder.com/how-many-police-officers-in-the-us/
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