Defunding the Police has been one of the most controversial topics of 2020, stemming from the wake of high-profile cases involving concerns of racial profiling or cases of police brutality. While some calls for Defunding the Police mask redistributing money from police budgets to social programs, others are a bit more blatant by defunding police departments altogether. 

Fast forward to this past week in La Grange, where 31 policing agencies descended on our area. They came with helicopters, heat-seeking devices, K-9s, SWAT teams, armored vehicles, and more. Tax dollars well spent to protect our community from harm. Imagine living near Kennedy Home or Banks School Road in an era where Defunding the Police wasn’t a phrase but a policy.

The radical call for Defunding the Police is either a lesson in poor marketing (they could’ve pushed for social programs and called it “Reinvesting in our Social Framework”), or they intend to defund police departments. However, either option seems to be a strange solution for practical problems, like what just happened in La Grange.

Late last week, our community saw violent incidents grip Lenoir County, as a man shot a deputy sheriff who was responding to a domestic disturbance scene. After wounding the officer, the shooter then fled the scene and shot another man before stealing his truck. The perpetrator was on the run and considered armed and dangerous for quite some time, with authorities in hot pursuit and warning residents of the possible threats. Immediately following a gunfight, deputies captured the perpetrator, and peace descended upon our community.

Led by Sheriff Ronnie Ingram, we can’t thank our local teams and the responding agencies enough for their efforts to keep us safe. We also can’t look past the proactive strides LCSO and KPD have made in the community. “Coffee with a Cop” programs, regular foot patrols, community watch organizations, and increasing the effectiveness of Crime Stoppers are all part of the proactive measures we need to reduce crime. 

Responding or reacting to crime needs a different set of tools. Last week’s events show that police need the best technology and equipment to deal with violent threats to the community. Without armor, advanced weaponry, cutting edge technology, radio equipment, armored vehicles, and excellent training, our officers cannot do their jobs. 

We need both proactive and reactive policing measures. We ask these men and women to go out and risk their lives for us every day; the least we can do is fund the equipment, training, and programs they need to complete that job on our behalf. 

On one final note, I also feel compelled to mention these situations’ real-time social media aspects. The Neuse News office received a call on Friday, and I answered. The lady on the phone was passionately angry and shaken by the information shared on social media. She was a member of a victim’s family. 

Imagine learning more about the condition of a family member before one official ever makes contact. 

Imagine wanting to be the center of the informational universe only to cause more harm than good. 

Imagine a world where humans treated social media platforms like they would if the victim’s family was sitting at a table with them. 

Bottom line: Sometimes, public officials must refrain from too much transparency as not to put victim’s or law enforcement officer’s lives at risk, especially during an ongoing crisis. 

Be better than that. Our officers and community deserve better from you.

Blue has always had our back. The least we can do is back his.

BJ Murphy is a social media entrepreneur, former mayor, and publisher of Neuse News. Text BJ your thoughts at 252.516.3611 and subscribe to his newsletter.