It's no secret that many people dislike the police in the state of Washington. You just have to look at the protests in downtown Seattle and many other cities, complaining about the system. But is defunding the police in Washington a good idea? Or is it an ideological fantasy that's doomed to fail?
James A. Gagliano is a law enforcement analyst and retired FBI supervisory special agent. In an op-ed published in CNN, he said, "While some policing tactics like Stop, Question, and Frisk have been subject to controversy, I witnessed the historic crime reduction in New York City that began in the 1990s, when criminals were put on notice that even minor infractions would be policed and law enforcement was widely credited with taking back the streets and saving countless lives."
Despite being incredibly loud, the protestors calling to defund the police hold an opinion that's not widely shared by the vast majority of Black Americans (who they're supposedly protesting for). According to a Gallup poll, 81% of Black Americans want similar or elevated levels of policing in their neighborhood.
Plus, it's also worth noting that fast police response times are strongly correlated with a reduction in crime. But since defunding the police puts a strain on resources, it's not a surprise that the Seattle of Seattle (and many other places around the country) have seen crime and homicide rates surge.
Furthermore, reduced police budgets mean fewer cops on the streets and in our neighborhoods to keep us safe. Also, cutting police budgets puts more pressure on current officers, increasing the risk of them quitting or doing their duties ineffectively due to burnout.
Do you think Washington should defund the police? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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