Tonight’s presidential debate and the continual dialogue around public safety is a reminder that data doesn’t lie. However, sometimes some people do. The rhetoric around violent crime surges, and the suggestion that more police and more police funding is needed to secure safety is a narrative built on false pretense. It is time for our national and local leaders to focus on alternative crisis responses and building stronger communities rather than having rapid responses that risk escalating violence. As crime continues to decline, the inaccurate rhetoric from some continues to rise. At the Center for Policing Equity, we aim to provide science and storytelling to support community-led efforts in reducing harm and improving public safety.
For us to achieve safer policing outcomes and more united communities, we need to recognize that while no one ever wants to be a victim of a crime, it’s equally dangerous to lie and say that crime is on the rise, especially in Black and brown communities. These statements also place the people who put their lives on the line to secure communities at risk. No candidate should want to win an election by seeing people lose their freedom or be starved of resources that build safe and supportive communities. Policing must be less racist, less deadly, and less omnipresent. People want better policing, not more policing. We want police accountability, not law enforcement exemption from liability. From New Orleans to Minneapolis, the data shows that violent crime continues to decline. It doesn’t mean that more work isn’t necessary. But, what is unnecessary is the dangerous rhetoric.
As the analyses and reviews of tonight’s performance dominate news coverage in the days and weeks to come, we must all remember: A strong democracy will not be built by one or two people or by focusing on anyone’s criminal history. The truth is that the power of everyday people standing shoulder to shoulder to build thriving communities for all is our greatest resource.