http://ijr.com/2016/09/685151-after-...t-2015-totals/

"The rise in gang-related violence could be attributed to increased timidity among police forces around the country in the wake of multiple high-profile "police brutality" cases. These incidents sparked a wave of protests and riots in Baltimore, New York, Ferguson, Milwaukee, and elsewhere.

The anti-law enforcement sentiment swept up by these riots has led to multiple murders of police, including NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, as well as the "Dallas Five," who were gunned down by a man who, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, said he wanted to kill white police officers.

Independent Journal Review spoke with Heather Mac Donald, author of "The War on Cops," and fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about the issue.

Mac Donald noted that the primary factor contributing to the spike in Chicago's violent crime rate is that "cops are backing off of proactive policing, and criminals are becoming emboldened."

"Pedestrian stops are down about 90% in Chicago. As the police union head told me last month, cops are just not 'clearing the corners' anymore. Out of those groups of youth hanging out, loitering, often emerges drive-by shootings and other forms of gang violence.""