Scharfenberger: Talk of defunding police is “sheer lunacy”

Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, PhD, today said that the national talk of defunding or dismantling our country’s police forces is “sheer lunacy.”

“The murder of George Floyd was a sickening display of excessive force by a police officer. That officer has rightly been fired and charged with Second Degree Murder and Manslaughter,” said Scharfenberger.“However, the calls by many in the media and some elected officials to “abolish and defund police departments” is frankly, sheer lunacy.”

Scharfenberger said the majority of police officers are upstanding members of the Law Enforcement Community, but have been vilified by the national media and many politicians who only seek to dangerously increase tensions. Instead, he believes these same officials should work to advance open dialogues while working to improve community and police relations.

“To paint the over 800,000 dedicated men and women in law enforcement with the same broad brush due to the actions of a limited percentage of bad actors is not only unfair, but dangerous as well,” Scharfenberger continued.“The media and those same elected officials who are calling for this should instead strive to improve relations between police, residents, and the communities they represent while weeding out those who exhibit reckless, unprofessional behavior. But to suggest police be removed from society only serves to endanger communities.”

“The great work done by the overwhelming majority of those in uniform far outweighs the completely reprehensible actions of those few officers who tarnish the shield,” says Scharfenberger.“It’s time to respect and support that majority of police officers for all they do and help build relations. Keep in mind the old police credo that no one despises a bad cop more than a good cop.”