New York, New York. The city so nice they say it twice.

Unless, of course, you count the number of citizens being raped, murdered, robbed or otherwise assaulted since Bill de Blasio took over the town and began “reforming” the police department and City Hall’s progressive approach to dealing with crime in one of the most densely populated urban centers on the planet. The NYPD has a hard enough job on its hands as it is, but the new rules of engagement don’t seem to be working out very well unless you happen to be a criminal. At the Daily Caller, our friend Kerry Picket reports:

NYPD crime statistics show the New York City murder rate spiked 8.3 percent since last year, while rape rose 5.8 percent. Additionally, misdemeanor sex crimes skyrocketed a whopping 18 percent. The numbers surfaced as the city mourns its fourth officer killed in the line duty this year. F.B.I. Director James Comey, said on Friday that the extra scrutiny and disparagement of police officers following incidents between law enforcement and officers are more hesitant. “I don’t know whether that explains it entirely, but I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind that has blown through American law enforcement over the last year,” Mr. Comey said during remarks at the University of Chicago Law School.

Four dead cops this year, and Hizzoner didn’t even show up for a ceremony honoring Patrolman Phillip Cardillo who died in the line of duty back in 1972. But at least he sent a note.

The Mayor’s office sent a statement in his absence: “The Mayor is grateful to Patrolman Phillip Cardillo and his family for giving the ultimate sacrifice to New York City in his efforts to protect our city’s residents. The Mayor has also been honored to attend street renamings for officers who have died in the line of duty during his administration.”

Well, that’s certainly nice. But the fact remains that nobody was ever prosecuted for Cardillo’s murder and it’s been a sore spot between the police and Democrat administrations ever since.

All across the nation crime rates have been falling for some time now but there are notable exceptions. Chicago, Baltimore and the Big Apple have defied the national trends and are seeing crime rates creeping back up. While causal relationships are difficult to quantify in questions like this it’s hard to deny that inner city police have been feeling not only unappreciated, but see themselves as being hung out to dry by City Hall. If they are less aggressive in doing their jobs and criminals are feeling bolder, a rise in crime rates isn’t exactly a mystery.

But you don’t have to take it from me. FBI Director James Comey has come out and finally admitted that law enforcement around the nation is struggling to deal with “The Ferguson Effect.” (CNN)

A year after unrest in Ferguson, Mo., brought increased scrutiny of police, FBI Director James Comey has thrown his weight behind the idea that restraint by cops in the wake of criticism is at least partly to blame for a surge in violent crime in some cities… Comey waded into the thorny issues at play in a speech Friday at the University of Chicago Law School, his alma mater. He has expressed worry about the spike in the number murders in some cities, and for the first time said it could be at least partly linked to what he called a “chill wind” police are facing in the wake of Ferguson. “Far more people are being killed in America’s cities this year than in many years — and let’s be clear: far more people of color are being killed in America’s cities this year. And it’s not the cops doing the killing,” Comey said.

Democrats and SJW activists can continue to turn a blind eye to all of this if they like but the results are far too obvious to ignore. If you don’t think that the liberal media backlash against police – even when police shootings are completely justified when dealing with violent criminals – is feeding the flames of unrest then you’re living in a fantasy world. The cops know it and the people living with this heightened level of crime on a day to day basis know it as well.

Small wonder, then, that urban police departments are facing a severe shortage of recruits, as ABC News reported in September. New applicants for police academies are down sharply and more cops are opting for early retirement. And why would things be otherwise? Starting pay for cops is nothing to write home about. (As the article points out, in Reno, Nevada a rookie can expect to earn less than $35k.) For generations now it was never the opportunity to get rich which drew people into this very dangerous role in public service, but rather a calling to serve the public and keep civilization intact. But when the government at the city, state and federal levels is ready to toss you under the bus at a moment’s notice, the thought of going out there every day and volunteering to possibly get shot by some crackhead for wages which barely pay the rent probably isn’t too appealing.

Government at all levels needs to turn this ship around pronto. If you lose the cops you’ve lost your society. Good luck living in Mad Max world, liberals. But I can assure you that it won’t be as fun as it looks in the movies.