In communities across America, there has been a broad consensus that the “defund the police” movement has not only failed, it has also created a serious staffing and recruitment problem that jeopardizes public safety. Why? Because the men and women who put on a uniform every day and risk their lives to protect the public want to know that when they go to work, their employer has their backs.
Many municipalities in Palm Beach County understand how to recruit and retain the best men and women to join their police departments and to remain in their departments. Unfortunately, the current leadership in Delray Beach, under Mayor Tom Carney and the City Commission, have shown that they are either completely incapable or inept when it comes to supporting Delray Beach police officers and the fact is the numbers, unlike Mayor Carney, don’t lie.
Let’s look at the facts. Nineteen police officers have left the Delray Beach Police Department since we, the PBA, started negotiations in June 2024. That is a staggering number. To put that in perspective, that translates to less officers on patrol, particularly on weekend shifts and less officers assigned to critical units. For example, the Delray Beach Police Department was forced to reassign the Community Policing Unit a few months ago to Road Patrol.
Does this sound like protecting your tax dollars?
An additional six police officers and one sergeant have been hired within the last two weeks. It costs Delray Beach taxpayers $362,000 to hire and train new officers, only to watch them leave after just two years. Twenty-six police officers times $362,000 equals a net loss of $9.41 million in one year…