ABSTRACT
Current predictions are that cybercrime will become a major global crisis. Between February and April 2021, we engaged 23 local police personnel in conversations about their agency’s cybercrime capacity, capability, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those conversations highlighted the negative impacts of the pandemic on US local police agencies and personnel and the compounding negative effects of a perceived anti-police environment attributed to the Defund the Police movement. Notably, regardless of size, type, or location, local police personnel interviewed described major challenges and concerns about their agency’s cybercrime capacity and capability including unmanageable cybercrime caseloads, lack of personnel and financial resources, and challenges with burnout, disillusionment, dissatisfaction, and fatigue all traceable to the impacts of the pandemic on the operating environment for police agencies.
