TOPLINE: It’s time for Democrats – from President Biden to Speaker Pelosi – to take responsibility for their hypocritical rhetoric and anti-police policies. How can Democrats support gutting public safety for millions of Americans who can’t afford private security while spending campaign funds on armed guards for themselves? The American people feel unsafe in their communities because criminals are taking advantage of Democrats’ embrace of the “Defund the Police” movement, letting crime govern cities and doing irreparable harm to our communities.   Democrats Have Been Hijacked by the “Defund the Police” Movement   As murders increase in cities across the country, it’s disturbing that House Democrats want to continue their efforts to defund the police.   Congresswoman Cori Bush has championed defunding the police but has spent nearly $70,000 on her private security detail.   When CBS News asked Congresswoman Bush about her private security detail, she responded:   “I’m going to make sure I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life, and I have too much work to do. There are too many people that need help right now for me to allow that. So, if I end up spending $200,000, if I spend $10 more dollars on it, you know what? I get to be here to do the work, so suck it up, and defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into social safety nets.”     To Democrats like Congresswoman Bush, law enforcement exists only to protect Democrat politicians, not the citizens they were elected to represent.   Violent Crime is Spiking Because of Democrats’ Anti-Cop Policies   Democrats’ anti-police rhetoric and policies have made the American people less safe.     The Council on Criminal Justice studied crime rates in 29 American cities from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and found that the number of murders increased by 16 percent compared to the same period in 2020 and by 42 percent compared to the first six months of 2019.   While the rate of some crimes has decreased compared to 2020, the Council on Criminal Justice reports alarming increases in the rates of several violent crimes: "The aggravated assault rate was 9 percent higher in the first half of 2021 than during the same period in 2020, and the gun assault rate was 5 percent higher in the first half of 2021 than the year before. Motor vehicle theft rates were 21 percent higher in the first half of 2021 than the year before."   In addition, ambush-style attacks on law enforcement officers this year have increased by 91 percent compared to the same period in 2020.     Sadly, there have been over 190 officers that have died in the line of duty so far this year—those officers left behind families, loved ones, and communities in desperate need of their protection. Criminals have become emboldened by anti-police rhetoric.   After more than a year of politically driven adverse treatment and brazen targeting of law enforcement, police departments are seeing an increase in officer retirements and are struggling to recruit new officers.     According to a survey from the Police Executive Research Forum, there has been a 45 percent increase in the retirement rate and a nearly 20 percent increase in resignations from officers in 2020-2021 compared to the previous year.   In smaller cities and towns, departments are struggling to respond to Democrats' anti-police rhetoric, making it more difficult to recruit the qualified officers they need to keep their communities safe.     “Defund the Police” Movement Rejected by Ordinary Americans   The popularity of the “Defund the Police” movement has declined after Democrat-run cities have become more prone to lawlessness.   In San Francisco, roughly 76 percent of citizens surveyed said they want a greater police presence in high-crime neighborhoods.     Similarly, a poll this summer found that most Portland residents reject Defund the Police, and most support an increase in police officers.     Democrats’ support for the radical “Defund the Police” movement goes against most Americans who support having more police officers to help combat the spike in violent crime.     Democrats' far-left rhetoric, policies, and actions have jeopardized the safety of our nation’s law enforcement officers and vulnerable communities.