We were encouraged to see last week's American Red Cross blood drive at Pocono Raceway, which paid tribute to the state police and those troopers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Last September's seven-week manhunt through rugged Pocono Mountain terrain for accused cop-killer Eric Frein showed us just how dangerous law enforcement work can be and how frayed nerves become when a killer is at large.While applauding our regional police for their work in capturing Frein, we also have empathy for those officers in our major cities where the stress factor is off the charts. Being a police officer in the gang- and drug-influenced neighborhoods of Baltimore, Milwaukee, New Orleans and St. Louis can resemble being in a war zone.U.S. cities have seen a 33 percent increase in homicides so far this year. We're just over halfway through the year and Milwaukee's homicide rate has more than doubled over last year (41 to 84).In Chicago, President Obama's home city, shootings have increased by 21 percent and the murder rate is up 19 percent. While Americans celebrated during the July 4 weekend, Chicago saw 11 people killed and more than 50 others wounded. Amari Brown, just 7, was struck by a bullet likely intended for his father, a gang leader with 45 arrests on his rap sheet.Baltimore's murder rate is on the highest pace since the 1970s. Since May 1, when state attorney Marilyn Mosby announced criminal charges against the officers in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black Baltimore resident who died in police custody, at least 55 people have been killed.Facing criticism rather than support, police have reportedly scaled back patrols, especially in high-crime areas. Officers now question whether their actions, many of which require split-second judgments, will be scrutinized by their superiors in government.Morale within the Baltimore department is reported to be at an all-time low. The sting or threat of being charged with racial profiling or the use of excessive force has even forced good officers to leave their departments altogether. This has added to the hours and stress levels of other officers trying to make up the manpower shortage.During a stop or an arrest, officers are put under a microscope by groups of people who gather to record the police actions and then post them on social media. According to police Commissioner Anthony Batts, there have been times when "30 to 50 people" surround officers on duty.The Baltimore state's attorney and the city mayor need to stop politicizing the situation. Surely they now see how quickly a reduced police presence can open the door to criminal activity.By Jim Zbicktneditor@tnonline.com