in 2021, we are seeing all the reopening kind of stressors. so we are seeing people going back to work. people going back to school. people spending more time outdoors, now, doing recreational and entertainment things. reporter: christopher herman also cites spiking-gun sales for the increase in homicides this year. and thinning, burned-out ranks of police departments. exemplified by an angry, exasperated sheriff, whose deputies battled those teenagers in florida. this is something i ve never seen, in 35 years of policing, and i m sad to say, thank god, my career s starting to come to an end because i don t know what the future of law enforcement looks like in this country. reporter: the spike in violent crime is so alarming that, after last year s movement to defund police departments. several-major cities, like new york, l.a., and oakland, are now scrambling to pour money, back, into their police departments. but experts are, still, warning us, we are seeing record retirement
12 and 14. get the hands up! reporter: police say the 14-year-old girl was shot and badly wounded by deputy just the 12-year-old boy taken into custody. no deputies were hurt. across america tonight law enforcement veterans and andists are again sounding the alarms over a spike in gun violence and homicides. unless the american people speak out it will be a long, hot, bloody summer. reporter: after a 30% increase in homicides last year in the u.s. crime nol gists say the numbers are spiking this year. why? from pandemic pain, financial and other stress sos last year, 2021 is presenting new problems. in 2021 we are seeing the reopening stressors and people going back to work, back to school. people spending more time outdoors doing entertainment things. reporter: christopher herman cites spiking gun sales for the increase in homicides this year and thinning burned out ranks of