Newark, NJ Police Fired Not a Single Shot in 2020

As a reader commented: Newark is one of the cities that has already been doing the work of defunding by building up social services and changing police culture. Great progress, but still a long way to go.

Exactly right.  The word “defund” was a terrible choice, but once one understands what it actually means, virtually anyone would be in favor of it.

Do you have a crazy but unarmed guy running through the street naked?  An eight-year-old acting up in school?  A potential suicide?  You don’t need a guy with a gun; you need someone with good communication skills, trained for that ad hoc purpose–and a cell phone to call 911 if somehow the matter gets out of hand and force is ultimately required.