As calls for defunding the police circle the country, some cities appear to be doing just that!
In fact, 9 Minneapolis council members pledged to defund the police and create an alternative “system of public safety“.
But the call to “defund the police” we hear in the streets is actually a dishonest slogan.
What is actually being pushed for is much different…
Below you will find perspectives from law enforcement and activists around the nation.
Together they paint a picture that is much different than most people think.
(Here is what you need to know about defunding the police! )
Why is the call to defund the police so confusing?
In order to see why the call to defund the police is so confusing. We must first recognize the movement for what it is.
Deceitful…
This point seems more important than any in order to truly have a meaningful discussion about what is going on.
At first I thought, “defunding the police is an absurd motion!” And on it’s face, it absolutely is.
But there are actually 3 MAIN perspectives here that need to be considered.
And seeing the picture these 3 pieces create will help you better understand what is really going on here.
Perspective #1: The People in The Streets LITERALLY Want to Defund the Police
First, the people in the streets are emotionally charged. And are easily lead into chanting something like “defund the police”.
And most of those people in the streets literally want the police to be dismantled entirely. And of course there are alternatives to defunding the police that are being overlooked.
That is what they think they are calling for. The ending of all police!
The surface level thinking seen at protests is the perfect breeding ground to establish whatever narrative you want to get out.
Unfortunately, the people in the streets don’t see that they are being played by the second perspective in this picture (the community organizers).
That is why it is often best to express your right to be heard, in courts, and not in the streets.
Alternatively, protestors could pick up first amendment auditing.
Perspective #2: The Protest Organizers Want to Change Policing
Next, the second perspective is the community organizers who are actually pushing for legislative changes and changes in the courts.
Those organizers who are publicly in charge of pushing the cause, are pushing for something much different.
What is ACTUALLY being pushed forward is more specialized and targeted policing units.
And it’s actually not a terrible idea. Police should be trained for specific duties.
Police are already specialized in things like bomb squad and terrorist units.
The community organizers are pushing for things like specialized training for:
- Mental health
- Domestic violence
- Drug use
- Traffic enforcement (or even less traffic enforcement)
Perspective #3: The Public Who is Justly Confused
Finally, you have the general public who see the people in the streets calling for defunding the police.
As well as the community organizers calling for police specialization on the news.
Naturally, these two conflicting perspectives sow confusion among the general public.
The message “defund the police” is DECEITFUL.
So the public has a hard time catching up with what is really going on.
The Result of these 3 Perspectives
These 3 perspectives result in a contentious stage. Resulting in a lot of debate and confusion, all the while…
The community organizers, or whoever organizes the gatherings, are the only ones fully aware of the situation. And they push their agenda in the background….
Hoping we don’t see what they are really pushing for.
And what that really is, has yet to be seen.
Amid These 3 Perspectives On Defunding the Police is the Truth
It’s true, defunding the police is NOT an accurate description of what the is really being pushed.
In fact, what defund the police really means is much different.
According to Reneé Rose of The Shaan Saar Foundation:
“Contrary to popular belief the idea of defunding the police isn’t about eliminating police departments. Rather, strategic relocation of funds, resources and responsibilities.”
“Future community safety and prevention models could redistribute resources to incorporate professionals who are best equipped to deal with a variety of non-violent crises.”
A Push to “Specialize the Police!”
What is actually being pushed forward can be more accurately described as: specializing the police .
Specializing the police and re-allocating funding seems to be the end objective of what the activists in charge are aiming for. And certainly this makes more sense than what protesters appear to be demanding.
Many People Agree, Police Specialization is Good
In fact, police specialization is a point that most people would actually agree on!!!
Increasing police funding and specializing police units with better training simply makes sense.
As Baron Christopher Hanson a GOP strategist and owner of Red Baron Consulting explains:
“The more rational solution is to actually over-fund the police, hire more expert military and special forces operators with graduate degrees to serve at all levels of police work –– male and female.”
“The problem is that street-level police are not always qualified. If American police forces consisted of legal and policy experts with far higher levels of international warfare and intelligence experience than “local-yocal podunk” cops with merely a high school education, our world would be a far more rational and safer place for everyone.”
Could “Covid Police” be in the Works?
One of the specialties that law-enforcement officers are currently ill-equipped to handle is enforcing Covid-19 laws.
This point was raised by an article in Crime America. Which talked about the many specialized services that may be considered under the initiatives being pushed forward.
And you better bet this one caught my attention!
When our current police departments were faced with the overwhelming task of enforcing coronavirus laws, they simply didn’t have the tools and training necessary.
So, one of the possible reasons this police reformation is being pushed nationwide so quickly. Is to create a law enforcement branch by flu season…
…specifically designed for enforcing Covid-19 or pandemic related regulations.
This would obviously cause outrage in much of the public.
Is this the reason for the deception? It’s possible. But still too early to tell.
On the Bright Side: The Defund the Police Movement May Mean Less Traffic Stops
Yet, on the brighter side, (at least in my perspective) one of the programs being pushed, may be less traffic stops!
Another one of the other interesting points the Crime America article raised, was that there would likely be much less enforcement of traffic infractions.
This sentiment is actually resounded by law enforcement too!
As Ray Dietrich Founder of America’s Keepers says:
“Defunding many of the traffic enforcement programs … eliminates MANY negative feeling contacts with law enforcement, with people who may not have any other contact at all. People feel like it is a revenue engine for the government, and well, it might just be.”
“I would not propose ending all traffic enforcement, it is a public safety issue, but I would suggest passing the enforcement actions to patrol officers and stopping units such as motorcycle enforcement. This would keep the traffic contacts to those who probably deserved it most, and change the public sentiment about police.”
Deciphering the True Meaning Behind the Call to Defund the Police…
In order to see what is really happening...
We must first recognize the deception and align our perspectives!
In Short: The protestors, and the general public are both being played off of one another. While a group of activists is pushing through laws and regulations that will change policing as we know it!
And for some reason, these organizers don’t want you to see what they are pushing forward….
Once we recognize this lie, and see what is actually being pushed forward.
We can begin to have an honest talk about the matter on a level playing field!
For example, here are a few practical solutions to improve policing.
The Bottom Line on the Call to Defund the Police
Truth is, there is something being hidden behind the confusing call to defund the police.
There is a reason that community organizers are not being public about what they are actually looking for. And I encourage you to beware of this and look for the reason behind the deceiving message.
Of course there are many possibilities, but only time will tell!
Update, President Trump did sign a national bill which aims to reform policing in America.