In recent years, law enforcement has received severe social media and mainstream news criticism over a serious of controversial events that gained popularity among certain groups in the United States. Calls were raised against police brutality and slogans created, spreading chants and cries such as “defund the police,” “demilitarize the police,” “reimagine police,” and some, with even more repulsive meanings. Due to the popularity of these outcries, some city officials have proposed and/or enacted decisions to cut police funding1 in favor of reallocating portions of or the sum towards, ‘community programs and outreach’, ‘psychiatric help’, and the ‘homeless and immigrant welfare’ rather than traditional policing. The looming question is, “Does defunding the police make us safer or increase risk of harm to American citizens?” The answer is very simple. Austin, Tx, officials proposed a 150 million dollar cut to Austin PD’s budget2 and enacted an immediate 31.5 million dollar cut in 20203, the effects are produced in Austin PD’s Annual Crime and Traffic Report4, in 2020 aggravated assault rose 25%, and robbery rose 9%, in 2021 homicide rose 80%, and rape rose 17%. In fact, while the movement to defund the police retains popularity among certain circles, there are cities that, while at one point discussed cutting the police budget or did cut it, ended up backtracking5 because of the detrimental effect reducing law enforcement officers has had on communities, businesses, and families. The result of defunding law enforcement6 is higher homicide rates, higher assault, higher theft, and higher vandalism. Overall, defunding the police results in more crime and slower 911 response times. It is not proven that reducing the police helps reduce crime in any way. Actually, crime is present when there is not the prevailing presence of law and order. Removing law enforcement personnel or tying their hands does nothing towards making the American people safer, or law enforcements job, the prevention of and response to crime, easier.7 The mentality, that giving people a community where they know that law enforcement is not present or has an extremely limited presence does not make that community or group of people safer, in fact, it empowers criminals to commit crimes against innocent people with little to no retribution being inflicted on them by the law. It is 100% necessary and right for law enforcement’s role of detaining suspects and determining facts to help prevent future crime and relay those facts so that the judicial system can impose just punishment on criminals and release to individuals acquitted of any wrongdoing. The safety of the American people is directly tied to having law enforcement supported, funded, respected, and encouraged to do their job without political tampering.
1 Portland Reduction: https://www.portland.gov/cbo/2021-2022-budget/documents/2021-2022-budget-cbo-review-police/download download (portland.gov)
Portland Result: New FBI Figures Show Portland Is Way Above Average in Its Increased Rate of Homicides (wweek.com)
Minneapolis crime — data at odds with the narrative (americanexperiment.org)
LA City Council approves cutting $150M from LAPD | Fox News
Austin sees spikes in violent crime, officer retirements after defund police vote | Fox News
3 Austin Police Department Reductions
Quote: “Following the initial budget reduction of $11.3 million to the Austin Police Department in the Proposed Budget, the City Council made an additional $20.2 million in reductions through various budget amendments as part of the Approved Budget. Altogether, these adjustments reflect a total reduction of $31.5 million from the Austin Police Department’s initial base budget.” - 2020-21 Approved Budget, Austin, TX2020-21_ApprovedBudget-FNL-WEB (austintexas.gov) Pg. 130-131
4 2020: Austin Police Department (austintexas.gov) 2021: Austin Police Department (austintexas.gov)
LAPD opposes further budget cuts that could result in 'crippling' layoffs of cops | Fox News
Refund the police: Cities backtrack on 2020 clarion call amid crime spikes - Washington Examiner
Mayor Adams announces reversal for some budget cuts (ny1.com)
6 FBI Releases 2020 Crime Statistics — FBI
7 Minneapolis, Police Sgt. Andrew Schroeder, is reported by the NYT to have said. “Who wants to put their lives on the line and make some split-second decision that may be the right one, and be crucified for it?” “It’s a heavy thing to think about.”
