Heather Mac Donald’s “The War on Cops” warns how anti-police sentiment undermines public safety

• Heather Mac Donald’s “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe” traces the surge in violent crime in the late 1970s and 1980s, attributing it to urban decay and societal challenges. It highlights the shift toward tougher sentencing laws and proactive policing to combat crime effectively.
• The implementation of Broken Windows policing in NYC under Mayor Giuliani and Commissioner Bratton in the 1990s, along with data-driven strategies, led to significant crime reductions. Nationwide, crime dropped by 50 percent over two decades, improving safety in minority neighborhoods.
• The rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in 2014, fueled by high-profile police-related deaths, led to accusations of systemic racism in law enforcement. Anti-police rhetoric and legal challenges, such as those against stop-and-frisk, contributed to a retreat from proactive policing, known as the “Ferguson effect.”
• The decline in proactive policing resulted in a surge in violent crime, disproportionately affecting Black communities. Mac Donald argues that the BLM narrative overlooked the realities of inner-city crime and the voices of law-abiding residents who supported police efforts.
• The book advocates for a return to data-driven policing and addressing root causes of crime, such as family breakdown and social dysfunction. It warns that continued demonization of law enforcement risks reversing past safety gains and harming vulnerable communities.

Heather Mac Donald’s “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe” examines the evolution of policing in America, the successes of data-driven law enforcement and the consequences of the growing anti-police movement.

The book argues that the demonization of police and the criminal justice system has led to a dangerous retreat from proactive policing – resulting in a surge of violent crime, particularly in minority communities. It begins by tracing the rise of crime in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when urban America was plagued by soaring homicide rates and widespread fear.

At the time, many believed crime was an inevitable result of poverty and racism. However, a shift occurred as legislators implemented tougher sentencing laws, aiming to reduce crime by keeping offenders off the streets. This marked the beginning of a new era in law enforcement, one that emphasized punishment and incarceration.

A pivotal moment came in 1994 with the introduction of Broken Windows policing in New York City (NYC) under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYC Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. This strategy focused on addressing minor offenses, such as graffiti and public disorder, to prevent more serious crimes.

Bratton’s data-driven approach, which included daily crime analysis and holding precinct commanders accountable, led to dramatic results. Crime in New York City dropped by 12 percent in his first year and another 16 percent the following year. Crime nationwide fell by 50 percent over the next two decades, revitalizing cities and improving safety in minority neighborhoods.

However, the tide turned in 2014 with the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, sparked by high-profile deaths of Black men at the hands of police. The movement accused law enforcement of systemic racism, targeting practices like Broken Windows policing and stop-and-frisk tactics.

Anti-police rhetoric intensified, with then-President Barack Obama and then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder echoing claims of racial bias in the criminal justice system. Lawsuits challenged NYPD practices, and a federal judge ruled against stop-and-frisk despite evidence of its effectiveness in reducing crime.

As anti-police sentiment grew, officers began to disengage from proactive policing – a phenomenon known as the “Ferguson effect.” Criminal summons and misdemeanor arrests plummeted, and violent crime surged, disproportionately affecting black communities.

Mac Donald argues that the BLM narrative ignored the realities of inner-city crime and the voices of law-abiding residents who supported the police. She contends that the movement’s focus on alleged police racism diverted attention from the root causes of crime, such as family breakdown and social dysfunction.

Mac Donald also challenges the media’s portrayal of police violence as a widespread threat to Black lives, noting that police killings of Black individuals are extremely rare compared to Black-on-Black homicides. She highlights cities like Chicago, where the absence of fathers and family instability have fueled a culture of violence far deadlier than any police action.

In conclusion, “The War on Cops” calls for an end to the demonization of law enforcement and a return to proactive, data-driven policing. Mac Donald emphasizes the need to address the root causes of crime, particularly the breakdown of the Black family, to ensure public safety. The book warns that without a renewed focus on law and order, the gains of the past decades will be lost and vulnerable communities will continue to suffer the consequences.

Watch this video about Heather Mac Donald’s book “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe.”

This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com.

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