Defunding The Police Essay

Riots and protests calling for the defunding of the police plague society. Defunding the police is not an option or will be our society’s downfall. The sections I will cover are that defunding the police would cause the crime rate to rise, and the disconnect between police and communities is both a cause and effect of defunding the police; there are better ways to solve the disconnect between police and communities.

. Defunding the police would only cause crime rates to rise. “Crime rates have surged since “defund the police” became a rallying cry.” (Thune) The quote shows that the rallying cry “defund the police” has had the opposite effect than what they are calling. “As an array of American voices rose around “defund the police,”

“Black respondents were split on whether there should be “more cops on the street,” while two-thirds indicated racial bias in policing should be addressed “by reforming the existing system.” (Merrifield). This quote shows that people want reform, but reform does not mean defunding. “I am all for funding mental health issues, and homeless issues, but the idea that it has to come from the 5% of city budgets that goes to law enforcement is absurd” (Merrifield). The police budget is already minuscule, so defunding the police would be absurd. “Last July, lawmakers in Berkeley approved a new traffic enforcement department separate from the police department.” (Merrifield) this is one way to lessen the workload on the police and lessen insecurities. “If we want to improve conditions in those communities and ensure fewer instances of police misconduct and less incarceration, we need to hire more police officers. And we need to pay them more.” (why defunding the police is a terrible idea) police officers do not earn enough, and paying them more will make them more inclined to do their job well. “Camden got more money,” Moskos says. “More money is not a panacea, but you’re not going to get better for less money.” (Merrifield). Camden county was an example of good reform. “It is about an individual officer’s default mindset, Stoughton explains. Are they a warrior? Or a guardian?”