Do you support ‘defund the police’ movement?
Following the death of George Floyd while in police custody, there have been calls for police reform. One is a call to “defund the police,” which means redirecting funding away from police departments to other government agencies. Is that something you support?
disease in order to reduce the symptoms.
Ted Moyer Lower Macungie Township
Providing the funds to ensure we have the best people for the job of protecting all citizens is money well spent. Directing funding away from police departments to various government agencies makes achieving improved policing virtually impossible. Not to mention more wasting of tax dollars.
I believe the majority of people want a well-trained police presence in their communities. Providing the resources for that is paramount.
Mark Porcaro Lower Mount Bethel Township
change is the relationship between law enforcement and the public (particularly with Blacks). While most police officers and departments are dedicated to serving the public, unfortunately some act more like an occupying force. Too many people have been killed or brutalized by the police, quite unjustifiably, and often simply because they were Black.
The better the relationship the police have with the public, the safer it will be not just for the public but for the police, and the easier it will be for them to do their job.
This means better training, actual accountability (by an independent body), weeding out authoritarian types or those with anger issues, not using brutality as a form of punishment, de-escalate rather than inflame situations, and working with the public rather than seeing it as the enemy. In other words, operating as peace officers not a police state.
Timothy Gruber Salisbury Township
way, defend the officer who took down George Floyd. However, the reaction to this incident, by left wing groups, was blown way out of proportion.
Now, let’s address the “defund the police” demands. Absolutely unacceptable. Police departments need more funding, not defunding. So because of the actions of one rogue cop, obviously a one-percenter, the other 99% of dedicated law enforcement officers will suffer, along with the communities that they serve.
We true Americans cannot allow America-hating groups to use unfortunate isolated incidents as fodder for their misguided agendas.
Robert C. Nickisher Upper Macungie Township