The police will still be around if we defund them. It merely means reallocating some of their funds (like the money spent on military grade equipment) and use those funds for something like a community building or project. This would financially motivate police and give them less dangerous weapons. We also need to fire those academy teachers that teach police about a "war on crime". This can make the police more willing to fire their weapons, since they were taught that it was a war.
I understand your concern, but defunding them is the best option right now, and it does not mean getting rid of the police force.