Many FBI agents based in cities with a high cost of living are struggling to make ends meet, forcing them to make hours-long commutes or double up in apartments, according to bureau and Justice Department officials.

Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, said she’s heard from two or three agents sharing an apartment near New York City, and others who commute four hours each day, back and forth to their field offices. Some circumstances are even more extreme, she added.

“They’re having to juggle being able to afford rent and/or utilities versus being able to actually buy groceries, so it’s getting to a level where it’s becoming very, very difficult to not only recruit agents into these high cost of living areas, but also retain them in those areas,” said Bara, who is a second-generation FBI agent.

  • foggy@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    Cops are supposed to be the line between the haves and the have-nots, sociologically speaking. They exist to enforce the rules of the haves upon the have-nots to keep the two separate.

    If the line falls into have-not territory, the rich get eaten.

    If I pay you handsomely to punch strangers in the face, you have a price. But at a certain price you’d opt to punch me in the face instead.

    • FireRetardant@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      I worry that if captiallism continues too far the elites will control police forces by giving them just enough to feel wealthy and forcing them to oppress those with less by threatening their livelihood if they don’t.

      • snooggums@midwest.social
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        7 months ago

        Right now they are given the power to abuse everyone else in lieu of pay, so we are basically at that same point but with other incentives.