Defund the police

We have witnessed many occasions where police have reacted inappropriately in situations they were not and are not trained to act in, such as mental health. Instead of calling on police to act in such events, it would be wiser and logical to defund from the very overfunded police operations in Ottawa, and reinvest it into new and existing social and mental health programs/initiatives that will be more beneficial for our community.

Funding should also be reinvested more towards education, healthcare, social services, and supporting the vulnerable and the minority.

Also, the police officers are not above the law and therefore should always be held accountable for their actions, just like any other citizen. I would actually say that police officer need to be held more accountable then others since they carry more privilege and power in their position they are in. Thus, I believe that the city should invest in functioning body cameras, which should be a must for all police officers at all times. There should be no excuse as to why they don't have one or why it wasn't working in any given situation.

Furthermore, monthly police mental health and drug checks need to be put into place. Police are just like any other person and can experience mental health issues.

Moreover, there should be more open and safe discussions around sexual assaults and sexual harrassment in the police force, which is usually not talked about. No one should be silenced.

Lastly, in no situation is it appropriate for a police officer to shoot someone, no matter if they are in danger or not. I believe the city should disarm police of all firearms and any other weapons.

#BLM