As protests have engulfed the US over the death of George Floyd, lawmakers have been grasping for answers. How do we deal with police brutality and systemic racism? One answer that has begun to creep up is the defunding of police departments. Defunding the police is not the answer.
Acknowledging The Problem
Before trying to solve the problem, we have to acknowledge what the problem is. We are currently battling two issues. The first is systemic racism within police departments across the country, and the Justice Department as a whole. The second issue is police brutality in general.
The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have once again shined a light on the racism inherent in our justice system. Arbery was not killed by police, but prosecutors declined to press charges against his killers for two months. One has to ask themselves if the roles were reversed, and Arbery had gunned down his white assailants, would prosecutors have been so cautious?
George Floyd was brutally killed by a police officer while three other officers stood by and did not intervene. He was restrained with a knee to the neck and told the officers he could not breathe, but the position was held for nearly 10 minutes until he was killed. All four have now been charged, but the charges were not levied until after massive protests erupted.
Unfortunately, our history is littered with stories like these. We have to develop a system to make sure African Americans are not neglected by our justice system. It shouldn’t take nationwide protests to achieve justice.
Police brutality has also been a long-brewing problem. The militarization of our law enforcement has not helped the problem. The George Floyd protests have exposed an ultra-aggressive police force that has assaulted peaceful protesters and law-abiding members of the press. A CNN reporter was arrested live on the air for no apparent reason.
Finding The Solution
So how do we deal with this problem? Defunding the police is not the answer. Despite all of the bad that has happened, we still need police. They are as vital as fire firefighters and paramedics.
One change that needs to be made involves qualified immunity, which shields government officials, including police officers, from being sued for their actions. Qualified immunity often prevents police officers from being disciplined for overstepping their boundaries. It either needs to end completely or be reined in significantly.
Dealing With Bad Cops
Rogue officers should be punished. Police are given special privileges and powers. This does not mean they should literally be able to get away with murder. I’m going to borrow a phrase from Spider-man, with great power must also come great responsibility. We should hold police officers to an even higher standard than we do the general public.
Holding bad cops accountable is just one part of the equation. We need to do more to prevent bad cops from entering the system in the first place. We need better job screening and better training. Unfortunately, police work is enticing to racists and bullies because it gives them an outlet to abuse others. We have to do a better job of weeding these folks out.
It takes a certain kind of person to be a good policeman. You have to have thick skin. You can’t fly off the handle when you are disrespected or having a bad day. The philosophy of Dalton from Road House is a good example of how to perceive police work. It’s nothing personal, it’s just a job.
Bad apples are not the only problem though. We have to remember that police officers are human. They make mistakes just like everyone else. Stressful situations are more likely to bring on mistakes. More and better training could help reduce mistakes, especially in the area of de-escalation.
The Issue Of Funding
While defunding the police blindly is not a good idea, targeting certain cuts wouldn’t hurt. The militarization of our police force has been a growing problem. Police should not have military weapons. Police deal with innocent civilians, not enemy combatants. Problems that are too big for them to handle should have handled by other branches. Money spent on military-grade equipment would be better suited for more training and screening of officers.
Something else that must be addressed is officer pay. Our police are underpaid for the job they are asked to do. Police work is just like any other field, if you want better works and better results, you have to pay better wages. If we are going to demand that police officers be better trained, we have to be prepared to pay them better. It is something that is long overdue.
The Rule of Law is Breaking Down
These solutions are by no means all that needs to be done. Criminal justice reform is a large and complex topic with many issues and unlimited answers. These solutions would be a good start. Our lawmakers need to do something to show that they are trying to solve the problem. After a week of protests, they have remained disturbingly silent.