Democratic-run San Francisco has reversed its course after pulling $120 million from its police budget in 2020.
QUICK FACTS:
- Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, liberal Mayor London Breed was among the number of politicians that supported defunding police departments in support of “social justice” activists.
- Breed introduced a plan that redirected $120 million in funds from the police and sheriff’s department towards funding initiatives for Black Americans.
- “We will redirect $120 million from law enforcement to support these priorities over the next two years,” Breed said. “Let me repeat that. This is $120 million.”
- In December 2021, following a year of skyrocketing crime in the city, Breed reversed the course and announced an emergency request for more money to help the police department combat crime.
SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR ON HER DECISION TO REVERSE DEFUNDING THE POLICE:
“I’m proud this city believes in giving people second chances,” said Breed. “Nevertheless, we also need there to [be] accountability when someone does break the law… Our compassion cannot be mistaken for weakness or indifference…”
BACKGROUND:
- Leading up to the reversal, San Francisco saw an increase in homicides by 20% and burglaries across the city by 47%.
- The “defund the police” movement caused widespread staff shortages and a decrease in recruitment across the country.
- “Most police departments are not these ginormous agencies,” Betsy Brantner Smith, a police veteran told Fox News Digital. “Then, you introduce the defund the police movement and vilification of police, and it makes it very difficult.”
- As of this month, the San Francisco Police Department was down 300 officers, with 50 leaving in July alone.
- In Dec. of 2021, Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, said Mayor Breed’s decision to “push to defund the SFPD was a mistake.”
