ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the importance and dependence on essential resources for law enforcement agencies and highlights the Defund the Police Movement. The current debate to defund the police reveals that law enforcement agencies mainly depend on the government and the community for their resources. Since this relationship is asymmetrical and unstable, they are more amenable to outside demands, requirements, and regulations. Recent calls for defunding the police to shift funding to non-policing public safety are being debated and compromise the stability and sustainability of policing. The law enforcement executives expressed grave concerns about recent events and trends that have sparked anger and protests around the country. It convinced them to reevaluate their efforts to reconnect with the community. Managing police operations and services often conflict because of the reality of balancing competing and conflicting demands, such as crime prevention, crime reduction, public safety against civil liberties, the use of force, and community perceptions of the fear of crime.
