[bearjaws]

Most cities are spending 9-10 figures on Police staff, and somehow are understaffed?

We simply aren't getting effective policing, and technology isn't the solution.

Reality is cops have become police report writers, traffic accident helpers, and domestic abuse arbiters, that is over half the job.

[edmundsauto]

Law enforcement has also burned its goodwill with the public, making everything harder.

[scarmig]

I agree with everything you say; my "police departments are understaffed" is too generic, and might be better stated as "too few resources are devoted to traditional beat policing." Which isn't to say that the other things are unnecessary or pointless, but it's a different set of skills.