Police officials are trying to pin the blame for the nationwide crisis in police recruiting on the civil unrest following the police-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Police spokespeople and high-profile sheriffs and chiefs complain they can't recruit enough officers largely because the public has grown hostile to officers. They point to efforts to "defund the police." That's partially true, but not the entire story.
A recent Orange County Register article quotes San Bernardino Police Chief Darren Goodman blaming the media: "In the last three years, police have been demonized by the highest office in the land and the majority of the media. When you take three years of an industry being demonized, and taking authority away from police…and it's not one that becomes appealing to those with other options."
