Prioritize Defund The Police

Why We Must Prioritize Defund The Police

Prioritize Defund The Police The Black Lives Matter movement gained renewed momentum following the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Amaud Arbery, and George Floyd. All three Black Americans were unarmed when they were killed by either White police officers, or armed vigilantes who took the law into their own hands. Since then, calls have mounted for increased police accountability, and the phrase ‘Defund the Police’ has become the rallying cry of protesters and activists across the country.

But what does this phrase really mean? Is it feasible? And what would the process of defunding police agencies actually look like state-to-state?   In an editorial piece published in The New York Times, last week, writer and organizer Mariame Kamba used the phrase in a fully literal way, asserting that simple police reformation won’t be effective.

Kamba’s Historical Points

Kamba points to the historical examples to explain how attempts to prosecute police misconduct through policy reform have failed in the past. In doing so, Kamba makes a solid point: If every aspect of a law enforcement agency is faulty–from inadequate officer preparation and poor de-escalation training to corrupt internal review boards, and the ‘blue code of silence’ that masks police misconduct, fixing the existing system becomes nearly impossible. Others have also argued that when this is the case, as it is among police forces across the nation, police departments must be dismantled entirely, and rebuilt with a new mission in mind; to protect and serve all communities safely and equally, while preserving the lives of those in the community.  

This movement has already taken root in a few cities around the country. In response to mounting public pressure, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that police funding would be cut and redirected to social services. The Mayor promised to begin reallocating funds almost immediately, within the next three weeks.

Luke Bronin, the Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut has committed to establishing a crisis response team composed of civilians who would respond either without, or alongside police, to handle calls concerned with trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Finally, in Los Angeles, leaders have also called for unarmed agencies to respond to nonviolent calls.

  While these changes are a far cry from completely dismantling police organizations, they represent a significant step in the right direction on the path toward police-civilian interactions.