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Madison Police Chief Mike Koval is pointing to “the unrelenting toxicity of the incessant criticism and scapegoating of the police” as a primary reason for why the number of people applying to be a Madison police officer has dropped by more than 40 percent over the last five years, and the number of those leaving the department has more than doubled.

Local police reformers, meanwhile, acknowledge that while negative perceptions of police may affect officer recruitment and retention, low unemployment, the retirement of baby boomers and other factors also play roles — not just in Madison, but across the country.

“It’s a national pattern,” said Greg Gelembiuk, a local police critic and member of the activist group Community Response Team.

Data from police show applications to the 468-officer department totaled 888 in 2014, and have been falling every year since. As of Wednesday, total applicants were 497. For all of 2017, there were 573.