Commentary It’s no coincidence that, over the past year, the alarming surge in violent crime across America has coincided with the nationwide campaign to defund the police. The left’s demonization of law enforcement and efforts to cut funding to police departments have made it extremely difficult for police officers to do their jobs. So difficult, in fact, that many policemen are now retiring. From the beginning of this year through April 21, 831 officers have already retired or filed for permanent leave from the New York Police Department. And in 2020, more than 5,300 officers retired or submitted paperwork to leave the force—an astonishing 75 percent increase from the previous year. Much of the violent crime infecting America’s cities today is connected to drugs, which enter our country courtesy of cartels south of the border. Once the drugs are here, they’re distributed by local gangs. A significant amount of crime stems from …