Who funds your police department? Well, we know our speeding tickets and parking fines generate income 🙂 We know that a portion of our taxes provides for police protection. The federal government chips in, too. And then there’s the state police. How much of your state and federal tax money funds them?
I finally found a breakdown of funding for my city from 2016. Here’s a rough idea of where funding might come from:
PROPERTY TAXES
REPLACEMENT TAXES
MAGISTRATE FINES
FEES
POLICE PENSION
PARKING SYSTEM PURCHASE SERVICES
FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS
PROPERTY FORFEITURES
CAPITAL LEASE FUNDS
GENERAL REVENUES
When a sizable number of Americans back defunding or eliminating police departments, the question is, where and to whom will that money be distributed? You need to find out.
It’s easy to say that a civilian force will be developed. Let’s look at the types of ongoing training police forces have.
Law Update
Use of Force
Civil Rights
Constitutional & Proper Use of L.E. Authority
Cultural Competency
Human Rights
Procedural Justice
Mental Health Awareness
Officer Wellness
Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
Sexual Assault Trauma Informed Response
Sexual Assault/Abuse Investigator Training
Lead Homicide Investigator
Psychology of Domestic Violence
How will a civilian sociological/psychological force do the work of a homicide investigator? How quickly will they become proficient?
Who will train this new agency to handle the use of force? It is naive to think that we live in Mayberry, USA. We don’t.
Who will educate this new agency on the U.S. Constitution?? on procedural justice?
Some will contend that we don’t need that investigator unless it is your family member or friend whose life is taken. Or that we won’t need any force to handle problems. I don’t think we can sing Kumbaya just yet. Even our Founders recognized that human nature isn’t always on its best behavior. Have you heard of any replacement program for the police that will include the U.S. Constitution?
Who will serve on this new agency’s task force? Will they be paid or volunteers?
These are all questions that need answers before we eliminate any law-keeping force.
Come to think of it, what makes your children obey the law in your home without a rebellion? When you cut class, board the city bus, and your mother gets on at the next stop, why do you hide under the seat? What makes you slow down when you see a police vehicle? Who will investigate if there is a crime, and how will you get answers?
As we know, there is a fine line between anarchy and civility.
It is a law-keeping force. We ought to think long-term before dismantling it.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. ??