Minneapolis City Council Members Announce Intent To Disband The Police Department, Invest In Community-Led Public Safety

[jessilin0113]

This is incredible...

https://theappeal.org/minneapolis-city- ... ic-safety/

On Sunday afternoon, a veto-proof majority of Minneapolis City Council members will announce their commitment to disbanding the city’s embattled police department, which has endured relentless criticism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, on May 25.

“We’re here because we hear you. We are here today because George Floyd was killed by the Minneapolis Police. We are here because here in Minneapolis and in cities across the United States it is clear that our existing system of policing and public safety is not keeping our communities safe,” Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender said Sunday. “Our efforts at incremental reform have failed. Period.”

[jessilin0113]

This is what it means to defund the police...

...officials in Los Angeles and New York City have called for making deep cuts to swollen police budgets and reallocating those funds for education, affordable housing, and other social services. Law enforcement officers are not equipped to be experts in responding to mental health crises, often leading to tragic results—nationally, about half of police killings involve someone living with mental illness or disability. As a result, public health experts have long advocated for dispatching medical professionals and/or social workers, not armed police, to respond to calls related to substance use and mental health.

[Deleted User 670]

We need to get rid of the racists and demilitarize the police and get rid of the 'vice department'. We actually need a police force or something similar to uphold the law. We can't completely defund it. But we can legalize a lot of shit that will reduce the responsibility of the PD. Like prostitution and drugs. Legalize it. But what are people going to do if they get robbed if there is no PD.

[jessilin0113]

We need to get rid of the racists and demilitarize the police and get rid of the 'vice department'. We actually need a police force or something similar to uphold the law. We can't completely defund it. But we can legalize a lot of shit that will reduce the responsibility of the PD. Like prostitution and drugs. Legalize it. But what are people going to do if they get robbed if there is no PD.

I agree with all of that and most of the reading I've done on defunding the police agrees as well. Police need to be available for actual crime but not be community social services. Put the money they get towards schools, community services, health care, etc.

[Mommamia]

There is ignorance and stupidity on this site is astonishing.

[Deleted User 1616]

I am sure that will work out swell.

[wildflowers25]

This should go swimmingly. Thank you, Minneapolis, for volunteering for this little experiment.

[jessilin0113]

This should go swimmingly. Thank you, Minneapolis, for volunteering for this little experiment.

They're not the first.

[moviestar]

I agree. What finally brought you to this moment of self awareness?

There is ignorance and stupidity on this site is astonishing.

[MistressMonster]

This is what it means to defund the police...

...officials in Los Angeles and New York City have called for making deep cuts to swollen police budgets and reallocating those funds for education, affordable housing, and other social services. Law enforcement officers are not equipped to be experts in responding to mental health crises, often leading to tragic results—nationally, about half of police killings involve someone living with mental illness or disability. As a result, public health experts have long advocated for dispatching medical professionals and/or social workers, not armed police, to respond to calls related to substance use and mental health.

We've had in about a decade several incidents with police shootings of people who are having mental breakdowns in my city. One big one the sister of the guy I think is still in a legal battle over the handling of his death by hands of police. I know the chief has had people come in to retrain the police on deescalation techniques when they get those kinds of calls. Don't know if it's helped any. We also have a special response unit team that can be sent out to handle those having mental health episodes. They are not tied to the police.