Biden Spox: We Want To Reform Not Defund The Police

The New York Times reports:

Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. “does not believe that police should be defunded,” a spokesman for his campaign said Monday, weighing in on a call from protesters and activists that has gathered steam as protests against police brutality and systemic racism have grown. The spokesman, Andrew Bates, said in a statement that Mr. Biden “hears and shares the deep grief and frustration of those calling out for change” and “supports the urgent need for reform.”

But Mr. Bates emphasized that Mr. Biden believes providing funding is necessary to help improve policing, including by supporting “community policing programs that improve relationships between officers and residents.” “This funding would also go towards diversifying police departments so that they resemble the communities in which they serve,” Mr. Bates said. “We also need additional funding for body-worn cameras.”

Joe Biden “does not believe that police should be defunded,” a spokesman for his campaign said Monday. The statement comes as “defund the police” has emerged as a rallying cry following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. https://t.co/2ZlOW9YXDZ

— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 8, 2020