Too much policing: Why calls are made to defund the police

The repeat use of fatal force against unarmed people of color has driven global protests against police violence and fueled criticism of policing as a mechanism for public safety. In the US, calls to abolish, transform, or reform policing have reemerged with a primary focus on the elimination of structural racism. In this essay, we contend that a two-tier policing problem exists. The first is the continued use of policing to enforce racial dominance through policing practices labeled as proactive. The second is contemporary warrior-style police training that normalizes the expectation of unquestioned compliance with police directives and authorizes police to use physical force in its absence. This dangerous combination results in over-policing the public generally and Black members of the public specifically. Select incidents are provided to support these claims. We conclude by expressing support for the call to reallocate portions of policing budgets toward other government and community-based structures that function to enhance the ability of people to survive and thrive rather than operate as mechanisms of pre-adjudication punishment and state-sanctioned coercion.

Automated summary

The repeated use of fatal force against unarmed people of color has sparked global protests and criticism of police violence. This essay argues that there are two issues with policing: the enforcement of racial dominance through proactive policing practices, and the normalization of warrior-style police training that expects unquestioned compliance and authorizes physical force. These issues result in over-policing of the public, especially black individuals.