Minneapolis City Council to Residents: “You’re On Your Own”

 

As the City Council of Minneapolis meets to reduce the police department budget by 50% as they said they would do in the aftermath of the “George Floyd Riots”, neighborhoods are starting their own community watch groups, some of them armed.  This is in response to a “surge of crime” in many neighborhoods.

As a WSJ story from Monday states:

The council had initially backed the idea of supporting the community watch groups with money for things like T-shirts, walkie-talkies and training, but that didn’t end up in the final budget.

The story also notes that shootings in the city have increased, with 75 occurring in the month of June, an increase from 24 in the same period last year.  In the first half of July alone, there were already 43 shootings in Minneapolis.

With the police presence reduced and shootings and other crime on the rise, the law-abiding citizens of Minneapolis seem to be on their own for defense of their neighborhoods.

Published in Policing
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 42 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    . .  . and they’re worried about a corona virus surge?? These are the kinds of situations that I hope will drive Democrats to vote for Republicans!

    • #1
  2. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    One man’s community watch group is another man’s militia. The vacuum of leadership and civil order left by the Blue collapse will be filled either by citizens or by the Insurgency. Looks like citizens in Minneapolis are choosing wisely.

    • #2
  3. Richard Fulmer Inactive
    Richard Fulmer
    @RichardFulmer

    When the time comes, and it will come, the City Council will find that their decision to “defund” the police will be very hard to reverse:

    1. The money they “save” on policing will be quickly earmarked for other things, and probably has already.
    2. Clawing back that money will be difficult, since new spending creates new interests dependent on that spending.
    3. The rioting has already driven some citizens and businesses out of the city, reducing the tax base.
    4. Probably, the increased crime and the problems associated with vigilante justice will drive more people and businesses away. 
    5. Luring in quality people to re-staff the police department will be difficult.
    • #3
  4. J. D. Fitzpatrick Member
    J. D. Fitzpatrick
    @JDFitzpatrick

    Richard Fulmer (View Comment):

    When the time comes, and it will come, the City Council will find that their decision to “defund” the police will be very hard to reverse:

    1. The money they “save” on policing will be quickly earmarked for other things, and probably has already.
    2. Clawing back that money will be difficult, since new spending creates new interests dependent on that spending.
    3. The rioting has already driven some citizens and businesses out of the city, reducing the tax base.
    4. Probably, the increased crime and the problems associated with vigilante justice will drive more people and businesses away.
    5. Luring in quality people to re-staff the police department will be difficult.

    Of course, despite decreased tax revenues, council salaries will remain the same. 

    • #4
  5. Richard Fulmer Inactive
    Richard Fulmer
    @RichardFulmer

    J. D. Fitzpatrick (View Comment):
    Of course, despite decreased tax revenues, council salaries will remain the same.

    I’m surprised they’re not getting raises.

    • #5
  6. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I would love to buy stock in 1) Minneapolis gun stores, and 2) concealed carry instructors right about now . . .

    • #6
  7. Limestone Cowboy Coolidge
    Limestone Cowboy
    @LimestoneCowboy

    Stad (View Comment):

    I would love to buy stock in 1) Minneapolis gun stores, and 2) concealed carry instructors right about now . . .

    @Stad

    Hey Stad,

    Hold off on Minneapolis guns stores for a bit. From what I’m seeing in Houston, there are very, very few guns available. You can get .22 LR  but not much else. Unless you’re willing to spend $1500+ . And geez, when you can’t get guns in HOUSTON!!???

    Fortunately my ex-army son has a decent collection of 9mm and 40S&W  which he’s kindly offered to share.

    Like the Goya buycott, the gun buying spree presages.. something. I wish I knew what.

    Regards, Limestone.

    • #7
  8. Ray Kujawa Coolidge
    Ray Kujawa
    @RayKujawa

    Actually, the city could do a lot worse than doing what was done when the City of Camden, New Jersey officially dissolved their police force and police responsibilities were taken over by a new county police department.

    So in May 2013, the Camden City Council officially approved resolutions to dissolve its police department. This did not mean policing stopped in Camden, however. Responsibilities were assumed by the newly established Camden County Police Department, which rehired many of the same officers. 

    Seven years later, the results have been encouraging. The crime rate has fallen from 79 per 1,000 to just 44 per 1,000, data show. Violent crime has plunged 42 percent. Camden no longer appears on most of those scary lists that rank America’s most dangerous cities

    According to the article, much of the benefits were achieved because the police force was effectively de-unionized. Union contracts had made policing too expensive to hire the number of officers needed. Union rules also allowed the situation to persist of frequent sick outages of up to 30% of the workforce at a time.

    • #8
  9. Fredösphere Inactive
    Fredösphere
    @Fredosphere

    Inside this news report is a punchline about bake sales and police funding trying to claw its way out.

    • #9
  10. iWe Coolidge
    iWe
    @iWe

    Open season on looters and protesters seems like a pretty good idea to me.

    I think the government should withdraw; this is a great opportunity to achieve a massive drawdown of the government.  Lemonade, baby!

     

    • #10
  11. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    We clearly need to tax the proceeds from the looting to fund the police. Problem solved.

    • #11
  12. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    RushBabe49: The story also notes that shootings in the city have increased, with 75 occurring in the month of June,

    Or as they call it in Chicago, a typical Tuesday.

     

    • #12
  13. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    . . . and they’re worried about a corona virus surge?? These are the kinds of situations that I hope will drive Democrats to vote for Republicans!

    The craziness of this moment can’t be overstated.

    • #13
  14. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Limestone Cowboy (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I would love to buy stock in 1) Minneapolis gun stores, and 2) concealed carry instructors right about now . . .

    @Stado true.  Remington just filed for bankruptcy.  Maybe I should buy the company

    Hey Stad,

    Hold off on Minneapolis guns stores for a bit. From what I’m seeing in Houston, there are very, very few guns available. You can get .22 LR but not much else. Unless you’re willing to spend $1500+ . And geez, when you can’t get guns in HOUSTON!!???

    Fortunately my ex-army son has a decent collection of 9mm and 40S&W which he’s kindly offered to share.

    Like the Goya buycott, the gun buying spree presages.. something. I wish I knew what.

    Regards, Limestone.

    So true.  Remington just filed for bankruptcy, so maybe I should buy the company instead . . .

    • #14
  15. Eridemus Coolidge
    Eridemus
    @Eridemus

    Er….wasn’t there ever a time that western society tried this (or found itself exposed) and it didn’t work so well (strong Viking guys vs. monks in monasteries etc.?) I mean, shouldn’t we analyze why there ARE city police first, before disbanding them? Like watch some evenings of the Justice channel? I’m amazed that we can even find men to face some of those appalling patholotical druggies/nutjobs with the skill, kool heads, and coordination they routinely have to use.

    • #15
  16. Eridemus Coolidge
    Eridemus
    @Eridemus

    Also….it seems like democrats are rushing this for some reason. Are there that many liberal voters who don’t care about basic safety? You’d think they would keep it under wraps instead of revealing their craziness before the election. But I guess that lack of strategy and delusion comes from craziness itself.

    • #16
  17. RushBabe49 Thatcher
    RushBabe49
    @RushBabe49

    The leftist narrative is that police are brutal towards black people, and the only way to stop the police brutality is to get rid of police. 

    • #17
  18. Locke On Member
    Locke On
    @LockeOn

    Stad (View Comment):

    So true. Remington just filed for bankruptcy, so maybe I should buy the company instead . . .

    That has little to do with the gun market, and much to do with private equity funds that have looted the company over the past decade or so, loading it with so much debt that it could not stay afloat.  And I wouldn’t advise buying it, or any part of it, as the same antics have driven off the quality workers to the point where I advise new shooters to avoid it and its products.

    • #18
  19. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    Eridemus (View Comment):

    Er….wasn’t there ever a time that western society tried this (or found itself exposed) and it didn’t work so well (strong Viking guys vs. monks in monasteries etc.?) I mean, shouldn’t we analyze why there ARE city police first, before disbanding them? Like watch some evenings of the Justice channel? I’m amazed that we can even find men to face some of those appalling patholotical druggies/nutjobs with the skill, kool heads, and coordination they routinely have to use.

    Careful there! You are almost suggesting that citizens should actually think. We can’t have that.

    • #19
  20. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans?  Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    • #20
  21. GrannyDude Member
    GrannyDude
    @GrannyDude

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans? Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    That’s what I was thinking!!!

     

    • #21
  22. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans? Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    No, now, let’s not parse the details, @oldbathos. We must stay in the now!

    • #22
  23. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans? Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    “You don’t need a gun for self-defense!  Call the police instead”.

    “The police are all violent racists!  Disarm and defund them!”.

    • #23
  24. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Ray Kujawa (View Comment):

    Actually, the city could do a lot worse than doing what was done when the City of Camden, New Jersey officially dissolved their police force and police responsibilities were taken over by a new county police department.

    So in May 2013, the Camden City Council officially approved resolutions to dissolve its police department. This did not mean policing stopped in Camden, however. Responsibilities were assumed by the newly established Camden County Police Department, which rehired many of the same officers.

    Seven years later, the results have been encouraging. The crime rate has fallen from 79 per 1,000 to just 44 per 1,000, data show. Violent crime has plunged 42 percent. Camden no longer appears on most of those scary lists that rank America’s most dangerous cities.

     

    According to the article, much of the benefits were achieved because the police force was effectively de-unionized. Union contracts had made policing too expensive to hire the number of officers needed. Union rules also allowed the situation to persist of frequent sick outages of up to 30% of the workforce at a time.

    Good to hear something positive from Camden (or any part of NJ for that matter). Sadly, I don’t think the defund-the-police crowd would support a plan that puts more cops on the streets.

    • #24
  25. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans? Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    No, now, let’s not parse the details, @oldbathos. We must stay in the now!

    And “the now” is (a) increase violent crime (b) increase the likelihood of a violent response in lieu of arrest and due process so (c) everybody hates and fears the status quo and surrenders to whatever authority promises safety. 

    • #25
  26. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Does it strike anybody as weird that the goal of the left appears to be to replace the police with cadres of untrained George Zimmermans? Isn’t that where we started this political circus?

    “You don’t need a gun for self-defense! Call the police instead”.

    “The police are all violent racists! Disarm and defund them!”.

    Yeah, it’s almost as if they want to leave the citizenry defenseless. . .

    • #26
  27. John Stanley Coolidge
    John Stanley
    @JohnStanley

    Locke On (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    So true. Remington just filed for bankruptcy, so maybe I should buy the company instead . . .

    That has little to do with the gun market, and much to do with private equity funds that have looted the company over the past decade or so, loading it with so much debt that it could not stay afloat. And I wouldn’t advise buying it, or any part of it, as the same antics have driven off the quality workers to the point where I advise new shooters to avoid it and its products.

    Firearm companies tend to do best when owned by a person and/or family that has experience in firearms and a deep understanding of quality control.

     

    • #27
  28. Aaron Miller Inactive
    Aaron Miller
    @AaronMiller

    John Stanley (View Comment):
    Firearm companies tend to do best when owned by a person and/or family that has experience in firearms and a deep understanding of quality control.

    That’s a problem of publicly traded companies generally. When you divest company control from a select few people of particular values to anyone and everyone with an interest in profits, you dissolve that company’s original identity. 

    • #28
  29. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Eridemus (View Comment):

    Er….wasn’t there ever a time that western society tried this (or found itself exposed) and it didn’t work so well (strong Viking guys vs. monks in monasteries etc.?) I mean, shouldn’t we analyze why there ARE city police first, before disbanding them?

    There was some twaddle in June from someone on the Left that police forces are descended from forces formed to go out and capture escaped slaves adding to the reasons to disband the police. Nonsense, but it’s out there.

    • #29
  30. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    RushBabe49:

    The council had initially backed the idea of supporting the community watch groups with money for things like T-shirts, walkie-talkies and training, but that didn’t end up in the final budget.

    The story also notes that shootings in the city have increased, with 75 occurring in the month of June, an increase from 24 in the same period last year. In the first half of July alone, there were already 43 shootings in Minneapolis.

    With the police presence reduced and shootings and other crime on the rise, the law-abiding citizens of Minneapolis seem to be on their own for defense of their neighborhoods.

    Rush,

    This could be the theme of a great campaign commercial. The Democratic message on police protecting the citizens from crime, “YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN”. Trump’s people could do a whole series of ads with the “YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN” logo. Make the Democrats own this.

    Regards,

    Jim

     

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.