In this episode Steve Hauck explores the "defund the police schism" and the historical cases that adversely affect recruitment of police officers.
There is no profession that has been analyzed and critiqued more than law enforcement," Steve says, "None."
Agencies across the country - from the NYPD to the LAPD - have lowered educational, physical, age requirements, application fees, and personal standards in an effort to get more recruits. A traditionalist, Steve quips that many agencies have joined the New York Yankees in their relaxation of facial hair policies.
Steve takes a look at the history of policing and says that police have to enforce the laws of the day. Sometimes those laws are more controversial. He looks at the slave patrols of the 1700's, the implications of Vietnam, to more current cases.
He looks at the belief that social workers and mental health professionals can replace police, and suggests a more cooperative solution. He looks at CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets) in Oregon, and an initiative in Central New York, as examples of attempts of where counselors tried to act unilaterally without the police.
With a heartfelt look at those suffering from mental illness, Steve
addresses the vicious cycle of mental health crises.
He looks at potential solutions to enhance policing efforts around the country, with specific examples from Albany, New York and Cincinnati, Ohio. With considerations such as diversity, time on the job, mentorship, retention, Steve takes an in-depth look at all things that affect recruitment and reform on the profession.
Steve says, "With so much money spent in government now...We have the find the money to address the societal problems while keeping our police officers well-funded, well-trained."
For every one dollar spent preventing a problem, he says, we save six dollars on a response.
There is no simple answer, he says, and we must try to fund both.
