thehill | Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden's
campaign said on Monday that the former vice president does not support
calls to defund the police amid growing calls to do so by activists
across the country.
“As his criminal justice proposal made clear
months ago, Vice President Biden does not believe that police should be
defunded," Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates told reporters.
"He
hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out
for change, and is driven to ensure that justice is done and that we put
a stop to this terrible pain," Bates added. "Biden supports the urgent
need for reform — including funding for public schools, summer programs,
and mental health and substance abuse treatment separate from funding
for policing — so that officers can focus on the job of policing."
Calls to defund police have grown amid nationwide protests over the
death last month of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police
officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. A
majority of the Minneapolis City Council voted to disband the local
police department and replace the office with what members have said
will be a new model of public safety.
Democrats have largely
embraced calls to reform police departments, but have stopped short of
endorsing calls to defund police. Republicans have seized on the issue
to argue Democrats are going too far with their calls for reforms.
