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defund the police

Saturday

Police didn't get defunded but many large departments are shrinking

Ethan Cheramie and Daryl Odom, of On Scene Services, a private contractor hired by New Orleans to respond to car wrecks because of a shortage of police officers. Martin Kaste/NPR hide caption

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Martin Kaste/NPR

National

Police didn't get defunded but many large departments are shrinking

A new study finds that some police forces are losing officers at a faster pace since 2020. In New Orleans, there's a grudging acceptance that it's time to offload some duties to civilians.

Tuesday

A Year After George Floyd's Death, Plans For Minneapolis Police Reform Have Softened

Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano speaks to a crowd that gathered at Powderhorn Park last June. During the event, Cano and eight other Minneapolis City Council members declared their commitment to defunding and dismantling the Minneapolis Police Department. But their support has changed since then. Liam James Doyle/MPR News hide caption

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Liam James Doyle/MPR News

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

A Year After George Floyd's Death, Plans For Minneapolis Police Reform Have Softened

MPR News

Last June, a veto-proof majority of the Minneapolis City Council pledged to defund and dismantle the police department. They have since softened their tone.

Tuesday

Oakland Becomes Latest City Looking To Take Police Out Of Some Nonviolent 911 Calls

Oakland City Vice Mayor and Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan says sending police to mental health and behavioral calls they aren't trained for is a mistake cities keep repeating. Philip Pacheco/ AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Philip Pacheco/ AFP via Getty Images

America Reckons With Racial Injustice

Oakland Becomes Latest City Looking To Take Police Out Of Some Nonviolent 911 Calls

The city's fire department will oversee the pilot project that aims to pair an EMT with someone with lived experience in the mental health, addiction, criminal justice or homeless services systems.

Oakland Becomes Latest City Looking To Take Police Out Of Some Nonviolent 911 Calls

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Wednesday

An Immune System
Therrious Davis for NPR

Code Switch

An Immune System

While it's technically possible to win a civil lawsuit against police officers for wrongdoing, there's a reason it almost never happens: a legal technicality called qualified immunity. On this episode, we look at how a law meant to protect Black people from racist violence gave way to a legal doctrine that many people see as the biggest obstacle to police reform.

An Immune System

Listen · 20:09
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Wednesday

De Blasio On Shifting $1 Billion From NYPD: 'We Think It's The Right Thing To Do'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, shown here at an event last month, defended the move to shift funds away from the city's police department. John Minchillo/AP hide caption

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John Minchillo/AP

Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice

De Blasio On Shifting $1 Billion From NYPD: 'We Think It's The Right Thing To Do'

The New York City Council passed a new budget overnight. Advocates and the council's speaker say the cuts didn't go far enough, as President Trump says they will "further antagonize" the police.

Friday

Minneapolis Council Moves To Defund Police, Establish 'Holistic' Public Safety Force

The killing of George Floyd by police has sparked ongoing protests calling for the city to defund the Minneapolis Police Department. On Friday, the City Council took the first of many steps to make that a reality. Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Kerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images

Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice

Minneapolis Council Moves To Defund Police, Establish 'Holistic' Public Safety Force

Under the plan, the existing police would be largely replaced with "a department of community safety and violence prevention," which will prioritize a "public health-oriented approach."

Friday

Money And Justice

A protester in Brooklyn with a face mask saying Defund Police, June 7 2020. Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images hide caption

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Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images

Planet Money

Money And Justice

Money and social change. We talk policing, nonprofits, reparations, and the awkwardness of brands getting woke. | Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.

Money And Justice

Listen · 25:16
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