First Thing: can cities live without police? Minneapolis may find out

[Amy-Strange]

-

(NOTE: the article doesn't really explain the headline, but it's still interesting.)

First Thing: can cities live without police? Minneapolis may find out

The largely peaceful protests prompted by the police killing of George Floyd went on across the US and around the world over the weekend, as it emerged that more than 10,000 US protesters have been arrested during the weeks of unrest – many for non-violent offences. In Minneapolis, where Floyd died, the city council has taken a dramatic step towards reform, by declaring their intent to disband the city’s police force and replace it with an alternative system of “public safety”.

The Obama administration introduced or stepped up measures to impose accountability on police forces after the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. But, as Ed Pilkington explains, Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has allowed those incremental efforts to wither on the vine – which may partially explain the growing support for a more radical solution: “defund the police”.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/first-thing-can-cities-live-without-police-minneapolis-may-find-out/ar-BB15bRaK?ocid=spartandhp
============

[Thomas Hurt]

1. where the f**k did this "defund the cops" come from?

[stillcool]

2. the usual places?

it's amazing. I think they're trying to galvanize the right, and the cops, and whatever else goes along.

[Gothmog]

3. Most people are talking about was done in Camden]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Amy-Strange]

5. I found that article and posted it in this forum, and...

-

thank you.
===========

[Gothmog]

7. Here is more

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Amy-Strange]

8. Good stuff, and...

-

thank you for the added info.
============

[zipplewrath]

4. More European model

What people are really talking about is creating a police force that is more narrowly focused much like many european countries. Basically you don't call the police for every little complaint. They aren't the Calvary in most cases. In many places the state may handle much of the crime prevention activities. But mental health is handled by doctors and social workers, not the jail cells. Drunks and drugs are dealt as a medical problem. You have someone having a picnic in a public park where they aren't supposed to be? You don't call 911, you call the parks department. You've got a squatter? You call code enforcement. The prosecutors office investigated crimes and built cases. They had investigators.

My home town years ago combined the police and fire into a single "department of public safety". It's a small town and it made alot of sense. Especially when you realize that the police frequently are called to fires. Police were "assigned" to fire stations from which they went on paroles, but were also directly connected to the stations "captain" and could directly coordinate with the fire department. It saved them a boat load of money.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

6. It's not such a bad idea...

...if you think about what it's been saying. I'll say this again: Public schools are without music programs, art classes, and even P.E. in some cases. Schools have been defunded for the last 30 years.

Proponents are saying the same things need to happen to police forces.