Letter from former mayors McFarlane and York for a safer Raleigh. Read here.
Raleigh’s growth has outstripped its public-safety staffing, unlike other cities.
Despite its success and accolades, Raleigh has neglected its most important job. Raleigh is America’s third-fastest-growing big city, but its police force has fallen far behind. The public does not feel safe. Raleigh residents, visitors, and business owners deserve better.
A crime in Raleigh occurs every
12 minutes.
Despite serving North Carolina’s second-largest city, police in Raleigh earn about
$23,000 less per year
than officers in Charlotte. Six smaller North Carolina cities pay their officers more.
Raleigh’s population has grown 13% over the past decade, but the city added only
3% more police
department staff compared to a 20% surge in other city staff positions.
Raleigh has a ratio of
1.89 police department staff per 1,000 population
while the average for the other cities is 2.65 police per 1,000 people. This means Raleigh's police staffing is about 30% below the others on average.
1.
Appropriate Police Staffing
A sworn police force large enough to ensure the safety and security of residents, visitors, and businesses in every neighborhood.
4.
Necessary Tools
State-of-the-art equipment and facilities to enable officers to work safely and effectively.
2.
Adequate Police Funding
Competitive pay, benefits, and working conditions to attract and retain excellent officers of all ranks.
5.
Homelessness Action
Promotion of innovative, caring solutions for the unhoused living and camping throughout our city.
3.
Superior Officers
The best police training, procedures and practices, and the highest professional ethics to bolster public accountability, confidence, and trust.
6.
Honor for Those Who Serve
Advocacy for their work, remembrance of the fallen and support for their families.
