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Some Americans hear “Defund the Police” and imagine a home invasion, a frantic call to 911 — and then no one at the other end. Let’s be clear — that’s not in the cards. But because of those fears, I have reservations about the phrase. It’s catchy and bold, but a poll found only 16 percent of Americans supported it. President Trump clearly sees “Defund the Police” as a political gift to him and the G.O.P., for he has been tweeting about it.
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Yet the idea behind “Defund the Police” seems to me not only sound but overdue — and that’s the topic of my column today. We should seek public safety not only from the policing toolbox but also from every other kind of intervention possible. Yet we’ve turned police officers in some cities into quasi-military forces, even as 3 million children attend schools with police officers but no nurses.
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Police shootings are a risk above all for young black men, but they should concern people of every complexion. My column notes that a white friend of mine in Oregon had his son shot dead two years ago by police in a hail of six bullets. What Kelly desperately needed was drug treatment, not gunfire.
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My column highlights an example of how moving from policing to public health to address drug addiction in Portugal has been very successful. That’s a model of “Defund the Police” — but of course we still want someone to answer when we dial 911. Please read.
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