More than 60 north-east officers have quit since the creation of the new national police force.
Police Scotland revealed that in the 12 months following the creation of Police Scotland on April 1, 2013, 64 officers working in the two divisions covering Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray handed in their resignations.
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said the figure was an indication that “something is going wrong”.
He claimed he has information that officers are unhappy that the type of community policing carried out by former Grampian Police is being replaced by a “target-driven” service.
Mr Macdonald has been pressing the Scottish Government and Police Scotland over how many former Grampian Police officers have resigned since the formation of Police Scotland.
He fears the overall number of local officers is declining, as the way official figures are now presented make it difficult to make any comparison.
Police Scotland said between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 a total of 64 north-east officers had quit listing “resignation” as the reason for leaving.
Over the same period 88 new recruits were taken on and five officers transferred from other areas.
Mr Macdonald said: “What these numbers confirm, I fear, is that a significant number of police officers are leaving the force. When 5% of officers in the local divisions are leaving in mid careers you know something is going wrong.
“The fact that officers are having to be directed from the centre indicates there is a real issue with local officers.”
Mr Macdonald added: “A number of people have spoken to me indicating they are unhappy with the direction of policing under Police Scotland.
“Having signed up to a community focused police force, too many officers are finding they are operating in a target driven environment and are choosing to work elsewhere.”