Letter to the editor: 'Defunding police' is a misnomer

“Defunding the police” is an unfortunate misnomer, developed from many irate protesters. It is, of course, an impossibility in a society consisting of beings who are human and faulted, and has conjured up visions of total anarchy. This is a phrase used politically as a scare tactic, and is apparently working.

The phrase supports divesting some funds from departments and reallocating them to non-force forms of community support, such as youth services, education, health care and others. It does not mean police would be disbanded.

There are situations that can be approached by professionals more trained in psychiatric study than a police officer. Defunding reduces the “force” portion of the department and uses people trained in psychiatric services as the first responders. Defusing situations by those trained in critical thinking and an understanding of human behavioral patterns, as opposed to issuing perpetrators ultimatums, should better establish relations.

An experienced leader can quickly analyze everything and decide which is the better option; police with force would be right behind if needed. Supposedly, changing to this system is under way in Kentucky and in the Northwest. It should lead to society “cleaning house” of undesirables in places of power.

Gerald Torbert

Hempfield