Black Lives Matter; Blue Lives Matter; All Lives Matter. 

I Can’t Breathe. 

Clashes between everyday citizens and the law enforcement officers who are tasked with protecting the public have made one thing clear: Something’s gotta give. In response to growing tension within the country between black and brown communities and the system that has historically underserved them, calls have been made the last few years to defund police departments in the United States. These suggestions are often met with strong opposition by those who view defunding as an attack on our justice system; but are the suggestions as radical as they’re made out to be? No. 

At their core, local police departments operate with two goals in mind: To uphold the law and to help maintain public safety. Over the years, with a growing population, law enforcement officers have taken on additional responsibilities within the community that have created a strain on the system. When you dive into the issues that face low income communities (which are predominantly black and brown) and the police departments who serve them, you start to see a problematic trend. These neighborhoods often lack access to the basic resources they need to flourish and the police departments are strained, offering services that aren’t in line with their original purpose. 

Systemic racism (policies that hold communities back) is a complex issue within our society that requires a multifaceted approach in order to find a viable, long term solution. Coupled with strained police forces who are ill equipped to handle problems like health (mental and physical), access to adequate shelter, schools, etc, it’s not surprising to see communities at odds with the police departments who serve them.

What does all of this mean, exactly? Calls to “defund” police are often misunderstood. Over the last few decades, a portion of department budgets (across the board) have been earmarked to go towards tackling issues like public health, homelessness, and community support. When lawmakers suggest partial defunding (even by 50%) for budgets, what they’re asking is for those resources to be reallocated in the ways that help make the community better. 

For example: A police department has a budget of $1 million to spend. $500,000 of that budget each year is spent to pay salaries and ensure that the primary goal (protecting and serving) of the department is met. The other $500,000 is allocated for community support that those very same officers end up doing. These officers are not counselors, psychiatrists, fair housing agents, etc. Calls for “defunding” police departments would mean that, instead of expecting the police department to handle ALL of it (on their own), that $500,000 would be reallocated to help fund agencies who specialize in the areas the communities need the most support. In scenarios like this, the police department would still have all the funding and training they need to focus on policing and community support would be available in order to help combat the consequences of systemic racism in disenfranchised communities. 

With a greater and more focused approach to policing, local departments can help provide officers with the necessary training in order to decrease the number of instances they come into conflict with community members. Defunding (reallocating) funds that are currently in the hands of police departments is a necessary step in making our communities better, safer spaces to be.