This California city defunded its police force. Killings by officers soared.

[procon]

17. They missed the point entirely.

It's not about firing half the police force to meet budget shortfalls as this scenario describes. It's about disbanding the use of military gear and tactics, retraining, removing bad cops, limiting the use of lethal and non lethal weapons with a focus on not escalating a shouting match into a violent conflict.

The police need to modernize and work with the established methods that are demonstrably effective in today's society, not launch chemical weapons and engage in brutal attacks on unarmed people. Citizens are not the enemy.

The police must start creating a more responsive and effective police force that works side by side with the communities they serve, and partner with professional agencies like counselors, medical, social services and religious leaders. There is nothing gained in the use of armored and weaponized assault vehicles set against people chanting and holding protest signs.