The number of law enforcement employees declined slightly (1.2 percent) in 2024 compared to the year before, according to Virginia State Police Crime in Virginia data. The number of both civilians and officers was almost identical to that in 2022 when homicides were roughly 25 percent higher. If the number of law-enforcement personnel is a critical variable for explaining the violent crime rate, it’s not evident from these numbers.

Arguably, law-enforcement morale and policing tactics are more important than raw numbers. Unfortunately, the Crime in Virginia contain no data reflecting upon morale. Turnover and early retirement in police officer ranks might be useful indicators of morale, but those numbers are not captured in the crime reports. — JAB