I have never called for the police to be defunded. I have always valued police officers and their departments, for the most part. In fact, I have called on other cities to do what mine has done and augment their efforts with folks trained and equipped to handle psychiatric emergencies. Cops can pass on these medical emergencies to non-Cops and get back on "the beat." Back in the mid-1970's when I worked as the Administrative Officer of the Day at a VA Hospital, police officers would regularly bring Mentally Ill Veterans in on 72 hour psychiatric holds. The seemingly simple picking up and dropping off of a seriously ill Veteran would take a couple of cops of the streets for hours. A visible cop car can have a deterrent effect on crime. But, not if it is in the VA parking lot. I have always said, "give he police what they need to keep us safe," even non-police helpers.
