California State Senate Bill SB731 will give the state power to take police officers badge for crimes and serious misconduct. California is one of five states without that authority. Is decertification better than defunding police departments? Is there another solution? What are your thoughts?
https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-mercury-news/20200702/281573767974018
Another point that is lost, is that Police Departments are also on the Front Lines for Terrorism, Domestic and Global something that wasn‘t really part of their mandate 20 years ago. Defunding seems like a terrible mistake.
In NY apparently the shootings went up over 200%, and yes it’s an outsized impact on minorities.
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/shootings-soar-205-percent-after-nypd-disbands-anti-crime-unit/
I think we've all seen the latest reports that shootings and murders are now higher in Minneapolis, NY, and Chicago and that a large fraction of those (78%, I think) are black lives. So defunding seems like a short-sighted and ignorant endeavor. Transparency and changes in hiring practices would seemingly be the more logical approach.
The chief of police in Minneapolis, Medaria Arradondo, is a black man. Why is the city council voting to revoke his leadership by doing away with his department - isn't collaboration a better idea for improving policing outcomes?