The Defund Police Movement

Protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd have reignited conversations about the role of police in society. Some activists are calling to defund the police department and divert the funds to organizations that help black communities. They are claiming that defunding the police means shrinking the scope of police responsibilities and shifting most of what the government does to keep people safe to entities that are better equipped.
District of Columbia Police Chief Peter Newsham warned that underfunding a police department may cause an increase in excess force by the police department. The Los Angeles Police Protective League said that budget cuts will make neighborhoods more dangerous. The Police Reform Bill backed by the Democrats proposes mandatory body cameras for all police officers. Democrats claimed that body cameras will reduce police brutality as police are likely to exercise restraint when body cameras are installed.