Two years ago, the death of George Floyd ignited a nationwide call to defund the police. Under public pressure, many cities cut police budgets.
Now, as crime rises and concerns about safety grow in an election year, city and state lawmakers are tapping federal pandemic relief funds to retain and hire more police officers.
President Joe Biden has urged those who haven’t done so to act quickly before the usual summer crime surge.
However, money alone cannot wipe out the damage incurred by the policing profession and public safety in the past two years, according to professionals from several statewide law enforcement organizations….