Something I should say more often

[CoccoBill]

I can't actually believe that people are advocating defunding the police. Reforming it, sure, but defunding? If I were a drug dealer I'd be delighted with such policies.

It means diverting the funds from the police to mental health, social services etc. Currently the police apparently have to do all kinds of stuff on top of policing, and this would free their resources to do a better job in what they're actually supposed to do. On top of it probably being a good idea to have a doctor deal with a mental patient, rather than a sheriff with a cannon.

[Poopadoop]

It means diverting the funds from the police to mental health, social services etc. Currently the police apparently have to do all kinds of stuff on top of policing, and this would free their resources to do a better job in what they're actually supposed to do. On top of it probably being a good idea to have a doctor deal with a mental patient, rather than a sheriff with a cannon.

^ This.

In the US, they send the police to deal with mentally ill people in distress, for which they apparently have no training. The person doesn't listen to their commands, then they often shoot them. In light of that, what is wrong with funding mental health professionals to go out and talk to these people instead of the police?