At least 20 police chiefs nationwide have resigned since the May in-custody death of George Floyd sparked anti-police protests and riots and energized the defund and abolish law enforcement movement.
In states like New York, Georgia, Washington and Virginia, police chiefs were called to resign by their respective communities for their handling of protests as well as for controversial law enforcement incidents involving alleged police brutality and systemic racism, Newsweek reports.
Chiefs in Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, Rochester, and other major cities have stepped down from their positions.
Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired in early June after stating he planned to retire at the end of the month. The Louisville Police Department is currently the subject of an investigation following the death of Breonna Taylor.
Sseveral police chiefs were also forced to step down due to offensive or racially insensitive posts on social media in reference to Black Lives Matter. Earlier this month, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Police Chief Mark DiLuzio retired after he shared a racially insensitive meme about the NBA boycotts on his private Facebook page, while Chief Jason Carroll of Jefferson, Texas, similarly resigned after a series of reportedly racist Facebook posts.
Community activists have called for Chief James Craig of Detroit to step down after a police vehicle accelerated into a crowd of protesters in June. Craig has not resigned.
