The proliferation of cameras, social media, and a 24-hour news cycle has meant certain crimes get quickly elevated in the public consciousness. Over the last seven years (hmmm, wonder what changed?) there have been several high-profile crimes involving both police officers and armed civilians that have caused various degrees of civil unrest. This post from PJ Media discusses the “Ferguson Effect” that has affected police departments across the country.

…having the police there is only half of the solution to the rise in murders. Cops have to be there, and they have to be willing to get out of their cars and question people acting suspiciously. Police officers have always been willing to risk a shootout in the cause of defending the defenseless, but they are wary of becoming the next cop to star in some political prosecution.

What this means for civilians is that relying on the police to be there when you need them is wishful thinking. That means people need to be ready to be their own first responder and not expect fast response times from law enforcement. The bad news is that this will place a greater burden on citizens and require people to step-up their preparations. The good news is this could provide a catalyst to engage neighbors and like-minded people for mutual assistance. One thing is for sure though; policing is in a state of flux right now in America…plan accordingly.