Review the numbers below for Chicago but which can be applied to most large urban cities (Baltimore, Minneapolis, LA, NYC).

What is the reason for this mass exodus of police officers? What do these numbers tell you and what are the second and third-order effects? 

If you were a security consultant in one of these cities, what would be your advice to business owners and citizens? 

The number of police officers in Chicago has rapidly declined. In 2019, 619 officers left or retired from the force and 440 joined. This is a net loss of 179 officers. In 2020, 705 officers left or retired from the force and 161 joined.

This is a net loss of 544 officers. In 2021, 900 left or retired from the force and 51 officers joined. This is a net loss of 849 officers In total, the Chicago PD has lost 920 officers in three years. Prior to 2019, there was a yearly average of 22,000 applicants for the police exam. In 2021, only 3,800 took the exam. The police academies and the pipeline for new officers are basically empty.