Regarding Mr. Patrick’s journey down memory lane, “Don’t like the police? Call a hippie.” (The Public Forum, June 21), the reality is, what was an issue then remains an issue now as it relates to law enforcement: abuse of authority and lack of accountability.
We also find a segment of our society continues to feel betrayed by, and fearful of, those whose mission is “to protect and to serve.”
As I understand it, “defunding” involves redefining the duties of law enforcement, relieving them of certain duties that would be better served by other more qualified individuals. What does that look like? For now, I have no idea.
What I don't want to see is a propensity to create a "pendulum" that takes this issue from one extreme to another. What I do want to see is law enforcement continuing to receive the respect they deserve, while skeptics feel they can trust and feel safe with those charged to protect them.
Gary D. Ruiz, Murray