Defunding the Police

When was the last time you called 9-1-1?

People may consider themselves a connoisseur on a variety of topics - art, music, wine. I consider myself a connoisseur of hospitals, police, paramedics, and 9-1-1.

My husband had Congestive Heart Failure, an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) implanted, a heart transplant, a stroke, three pacemakers, seventeen plus surgeries, and a perforated colon. I have clocked a lot of time in hospitals. As I navigated this medical journey with my husband, I called 9-1-1 too many times to even remember.

There were so many nights at our house when my husband would wake up unable to breathe. The absolute panic would set in. I would race to the phone to call 9-1-1, run downstairs to unlock the doors and turn on the house lights, and pray to God the paramedics would arrive before my husband died. I would tell my husband, 'breathe, breathe, breathe,' he would start gasping for air. I could feel my heart racing and the anxiety building. All of the sudden, I could hear a siren in the distance. I knew help was on the way. I would always say, 'Thank you God.' I could feel an absolute sense of relief set in.

The police were always the first to arrive when I called 9-1-1. When they walked through my front door, the situation was under control. They took charge. They were professional and knew what they were doing. Shortly thereafter, the paramedics would arrive. Between the police and paramedics, I knew my husband was in good hands. I believe paramedics and police saved my husband's life several times.

I have been following the recent calls to defund the police. I hear the critics...police have become too militant. Police do not need tanks, assault rifles, warrior training. But, what if they did need these things? In St. Louis County, Missouri, my hometown, we recently built a $1.7 million Covid-19 morgue with a capacity for 1300 bodies. Fifty-six bodies have been placed there. Proponents say, 'It is better to build it and not need it than to need it and not have it.' Agreed. Now many of these same government officials are the exact same people who say police do not need the equipment they have. But...isn't it better to have it and never need it than to need it and not have it?

We have all watched the horrific shootings in our schools. Sandy Hook will forever be etched in my mind. I often think about those little kids entering a school right before the holidays. They were probably so happy...so innocent. And then one shooter destroyed so many lives. It is unthinkable. Since that time, United States schools have spent an estimated three billion dollars on emergency lock down systems. Our kids have tornado drills, earthquake drills, and now our innocent children have intruder drills. The world changed. I am so grateful that the schools in the United States are equipped with this lifesaving lock down equipment. And, I hope they never have to use it. But, we know, it is far better that every school has the equipment and never need it than even one school needing it and not having it.

Across our country discussions are taking place to defund the police and first responders. New York City officials are considering cutting 400 paramedic jobs. Additionally, they 'defunded' the police with a $1 billion dollar budget cut. Individuals representing the paramedics say residents may have to wait an hour or more for help when these cuts take effect. If waiting for help that long, my husband would have died. I am sure others will die too.

I think about the people who call for defunding police and first responders. Have they ever called 9-1-1? I could make the case that we could 'defund' sewage treatment plants from government budgets. I have never seen a sewage treatment plant - so it must not be important. In reality, I know that a sewage treatment plant saves lives by removing contaminants from our wastewater. It gives me great comfort to know that someone, somewhere, is watching our water systems. It also gives me great comfort to know that someone, somewhere, is waiting and ready should I need help when I call 9-1-1.

Our Country is in such a tumultuous time as we deal with discussions of defunding the police at the same time dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a significant analogy to be made with these issues. Covid-19 has impacted every portion of our lives mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially. Many people have asked, 'Was the United States prepared for Covid-19?' Many believe we were not prepared and lives were lost. The United States maintains The Strategic National Stockpile which contains a series of warehouses that reportedly contain medicine, protective gear, ventilators, and other types of medical equipment should we experience an emergency. According to Bloomberg News, during the 2009 flu pandemic, tens of millions of masks were used and the strategic stockpiles were not significantly restored as other priority budget projects needed funding. That is exactly a 'defunding' of our national stockpile as we diverted budget funds for other areas. If we defund or divert funds from the police, will we be prepared in a national emergency? The anniversary of September 11th, 2001, is a few weeks away. I remember this national emergency like it was yesterday and I remember we rightfully recognized our first responders as heroes.

My wish for everyone is that they never have to call 9-1-1. My hope for everyone is that if you do call 9-1-1 you will hear that siren in the distance and know the best trained and best equipped first responders are on their way offering you and your loved ones the emergency help you need.