The ‘Ferguson Effect’ is to Blame for Rise in Crime — Federal Bureau of Investigation Director

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said the agency used surveillance aircrafts above Ferguson, Missouri, a year ago to help local law enforcement keep track of unrest on the ground.

Officers have told him they feel besieged and are taunted by people holding smartphones, Comey said.

Comey floated the theory in a speech at the University of Chicago Law School. But he acknowledged that there is so far no data to back up his assertion and that it may be just one of many factors that are contributing to the rise in crime, like cheaper drugs and an increase in criminals being released from prison.

“In today’s YouTube world, there are officers reluctant to get out of their cars and do the work that controls violent crime”, he said. If the number of ISIS investigations is growing, but the number of recruits leaving the country is declining, it is natural to worry that means more unsafe individuals loyal to the Islamic State and its murderous ideology are plotting violent acts on American soil.

“Lives are saved when potential killers are confronted by a police officer, a strong police presence and actual, honest-to-goodness, up-close “What are you guys doing on this corner at 1 o’clock in the morning” policing. We need to be careful it doesn’t drift away from us in the age of viral videos, or there will be profound consequences”, he warned.

Comey said there were other possible reasons for the jump in crime, but the one that seemed to fit best was a change in police behavior. Even though such a decrease sounds like good news, Comey said that it is still not known how the lack of Middle East travel attempts will impact domestic terror threats by ISIS supporters and operatives.

And the only way to restore the trust between African-Americans, other racial minorities and the police is to begin having frank, open conversations about race, crime and the justice system as well as to address the breakdown in that relationship, he said.

After civil rights leaders and the Justice Department accused the Seattle Police Department of discriminatory policing and excessive force, the number of officer-instigated stops declined and crime ticked upward, said Kathleen O’Toole, the police chief.

Comey’s remarks also bore a strong resemblance to a theory a few law enforcement officials have referred to as the “Ferguson effect” – that increased scrutiny on police departments makes officers less pro-active and increases crime.

Comey’s comments come as the nation continues to focus on policing tactics and communities of color nationwide.

“We use planes in our predicated investigations to conduct surveillance on people under investigation”, Comey said.