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I agree with Officer Cosme. I do not believe LPD is an abusive police department. The tactics used by Minneapolis PD are outdated and not taught by the police academy at LCC, where many of the officers take their training. Calling for defunding a police department without an extremely careful, independent analysis would be tremendously detrimental to the residents of Lansing. The proposed defunding resolution by Councilperson Bretz is, IMO, a complete pandering to the loudest voices. Can things be made better at any institution? Most certainly. Are there bad police officers. Most certainly. But I can guarantee you no one hates and dislikes bad police officers than good police officers.

I was born and have lived in the City of Lansing for over 60 years. I have worked with many LPD officers since 1976 until 2001. I have seen LPD when they have lost a fellow officer. I have seen LPD time after time after time work their hardest and best on days many would have called it a day. If cities start defunding police departments many good officers will leave their field of training, and who would blame them? I would encourage those yelling the loudest for defunding to do more than one ride-along. They need to work one week doing what LPD officers, and many other PDs do, day after day after day. Pupt up being spat on; screamed at, lied to, respond to a child abuse complaint, take a suicide report, go to a homicide scene, break the news to a family their loved one has died.

LPD's hiring standards will dramatically drop and you then you will get the proverbial what you pay for. Crap candidates that shouldn't be a police officer anywhere. Currently, LPD has high hiring standards and a rigorous testing program. Once again, if you defund a critical city department without all the information one needs to make an educated, informed, public safety decision you do not give a hoot about this city of the integrity of this police department.

In conclusion, Bretz and Schor need to quit pandering and knee jerking to the last media hype. They need to educate themselves and, IMO, the current chief of police needs to stand tall for his department, his employees.