2020 -
At the end of June, the department—which is budgeted for 677 full-time positions—had more than 90 vacancies.
So the funding is there for more cops.Got it
2020 -
At the end of June, the department—which is budgeted for 677 full-time positions—had more than 90 vacancies.
Let me post some paragraphs from the article since it obvious you have not read it in detail...
2019 -
After the city manager scaled back Davis’ request to 18 patrol officers, Durham Beyond Policing released a manifesto: a 50-page counterproposal that lobbied for a three-year moratorium on hiring new officers. Instead of paying $1.2 million for more cops, the coalition argued, the city should spend $650,000 to provide its part-time employees with a living wage and establish a Community and Safety Wellness Task Force to develop “viable alternatives to policing.”
The council agreed. A 4-3 majority rejected the 18 officers, and further rejected Mayor Schewel’s compromise offer of nine officers.
That hard line didn’t prove absolute. In March 2020, with gang violence escalating, the council unanimously agreed to hire six new cops. But the city’s police force still felt besieged.
2020 -
In an interview, a spokesman for the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police blamed the “toxic political climate” for low morale and high turnover. Last fiscal year, about six officers left the DPD each month. At the end of June, the department—which is budgeted for 677 full-time positions—had more than 90 vacancies.
2021 -
Eventually, the council voted 6-1—Johnson voted no—to freeze “up to” 15 additional police vacancies to transfer to Community Safety in January.
The recent election -
Then came the election.
Every elected official in Durham is a Democrat, but hegemony hasn’t promoted harmony. The city’s political set has splintered into messy coalitions: the Durham People’s Alliance (PA) and its allies on the left, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and Friends of Durham on the not-quite-as-left.
In recent years, tensions simmered as the PA grew more powerful. They reached a boil last year when Durham County Manager Wendell Davis accused a PA-backed commissioner of racism, and again in May, when three PA-backed commissioners declined to renew the county manager’s contract.
So when this fall’s municipal elections began, the Durham Committee was determined to shift the equation. The PA’s machine never got into gear.
The Committee secured a 4-3 majority, with well-connected former superior court judge Elaine O’Neal elected mayor, beating her PA-backed opponent. Steve Schewel, the PA-supported incumbent mayor, didn’t run again.
Middleton says voters’ message was inescapable.
“That was solely a referendum about gun violence in this city,” he told The Assembly after the primary. “It wasn’t a referendum about the economy. The defining issue was the way we talk about and are dealing with gun violence and crime.”
And many not major cities defunded police budgets including Durham in our area. The result was that crime increased greatly. There is a direct correlation.
Let me post some paragraphs from the article since it obvious you have not read it in detail...
2019 -
After the city manager scaled back Davis’ request to 18 patrol officers, Durham Beyond Policing released a manifesto: a 50-page counterproposal that lobbied for a three-year moratorium on hiring new officers. Instead of paying $1.2 million for more cops, the coalition argued, the city should spend $650,000 to provide its part-time employees with a living wage and establish a Community and Safety Wellness Task Force to develop “viable alternatives to policing.”
The council agreed. A 4-3 majority rejected the 18 officers, and further rejected Mayor Schewel’s compromise offer of nine officers.
That hard line didn’t prove absolute. In March 2020, with gang violence escalating, the council unanimously agreed to hire six new cops. But the city’s police force still felt besieged.
2020 -
In an interview, a spokesman for the local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police blamed the “toxic political climate” for low morale and high turnover. Last fiscal year, about six officers left the DPD each month. At the end of June, the department—which is budgeted for 677 full-time positions—had more than 90 vacancies.
2021 -
Eventually, the council voted 6-1—Johnson voted no—to freeze “up to” 15 additional police vacancies to transfer to Community Safety in January.
The recent election -
Then came the election.
Every elected official in Durham is a Democrat, but hegemony hasn’t promoted harmony. The city’s political set has splintered into messy coalitions: the Durham People’s Alliance (PA) and its allies on the left, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and Friends of Durham on the not-quite-as-left.
In recent years, tensions simmered as the PA grew more powerful. They reached a boil last year when Durham County Manager Wendell Davis accused a PA-backed commissioner of racism, and again in May, when three PA-backed commissioners declined to renew the county manager’s contract.
So when this fall’s municipal elections began, the Durham Committee was determined to shift the equation. The PA’s machine never got into gear.
The Committee secured a 4-3 majority, with well-connected former superior court judge Elaine O’Neal elected mayor, beating her PA-backed opponent. Steve Schewel, the PA-supported incumbent mayor, didn’t run again.
Middleton says voters’ message was inescapable.
“That was solely a referendum about gun violence in this city,” he told The Assembly after the primary. “It wasn’t a referendum about the economy. The defining issue was the way we talk about and are dealing with gun violence and crime.”
And many not major cities defunded police budgets including Durham in our area.
This discussion and GWB are a perfect example of how someone takes a premise they "believe" is true, but fail to research it before making blanket, all encompassing statements like 'defunding leads to crime increases.'
His premise fails to consider the definitions of 'defunding,' and doesn't categorize the different types for a proper and fair analysis.
His premise also fails to consider other factors affecting crime rates each year (weather, economy, arrest rates, police calls, etc.), including natural deviations. Additionally, some cops may be emotional due to the calls to defund, and do their jobs less effectively.
Not to mention, as @Tony Stark pointed out ... he was just completely wrong in his example case.
But rather than fall back, he'd rather lose credibility by--in Trump fashion--doubling down, as this young lady did:
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No. Defunding the police is not equivalent to making personnel decisions about raises and working conditions, etc. Defunding means allocating more funds to public safety and community support. Defunding does not demand that the funds specifically and necessarily come from police payrolls.isn’t this the exact same as defunding the police?
False. Source?The purpose of the “Defund the Police” movement was to have less police on the street.
No. Defunding the police is not equivalent to making personnel decisions like raises and working conditions, etc. Defunding means allocating more funds to public safety and community support. Defunding does not demand that the funds come from police payrolls. As I've already stated, maybe a police force won't buy as many tanks, or as many fancy cars; thereby freeing up funds. Again, you have to look at each particular situation. There is not one size fits all like your narrative calls for.
False. Source?
It's bullshit statements like this that cause readers, on both sides, to not respect you.
Well then.. our definitions of “Defund the Police” fundamentally do not agree then. Let me say that my definition does not agree with yours, nor will it ever in the future.
Let me note that your definition of “Defund the Police” does not agree with the definition of the Durham City Council members either — one of whom stated - “Any idea to get police off the streets is a good idea”.
The “Defund the Police” movement is not about merely reallocating resources — the primary purpose is to get cops off the street.