No, what is non negotiable to all good humans with common sense is the betterment of society through rehabilitation of those in need of help, and effective services to help with any emergencies.
Setting aside the racist beginnings of the American police, they are entrusted with far too many responsibilities that they are not thoroughly trained for, including mental health calls, drug busts, and domestic calls. The training police do receive is in how to view themselves as predators and how to view the general public as potential prey. They are told that they must be prepared to take a life in any possible circumstance and are not held accountable when excessive force is used. Not only that, but officers that speak out against the lack of accountability are often shamed and scrutinized for criticizing their “brothers” and their careers can be completely destroyed. This is why there are no “good cops”. There are bad cops, and the cops that would have otherwise been good either stay silent or are silenced. All of this put together results in a police force that, at best, is highly ineffective in prevention of drug use, handling of mental health issues, and potentially destructive in domestic abuse cases. At worst, it’s a cult with a superiority complex that’s been given a badge and a license to kill that’s trained to view the rest of the world as potential prey.
Defunding the police would mean that the police departments as we know them would have a single responsibility: responding to emergencies that cannot be handled by other government organizations. Drug offenses would be handled by a new, separate branch. Mental health calls would be handled by trained professionals and field psychologists. Non-violent domestic issues would be handled by trained counselors. Hell, even traffic stops would be handled by specialized officers similar to but separate from the cops. Violent crimes, robberies, and other situation where people are in immediate danger would still be handled by the cops, but not without a complete change in the way they’re trained. The Police Unions would not have so much power that officers cannot be held accountable for wrongdoings, and the “good cops” that we so rarely see would actually be given a voice and praised for their bravery in being able to hold themselves, their superiors, their colleagues, and their precinct accountable. This is what defund the police means.
