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Wainwright: Defunding police departments is not the answer

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There is great truth in the saying that “Freedom is not free.” If we fail to support the officers who protect us, it is unrealistic to assume that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness would not be the first three casualties.
– Jonathan Wainwright, Paradise Valley Town Council candidate

Defunding or eliminating the police is an idea whose time should never come.

In a just and civil society where the free exchange of ideas is permitted and debate is encouraged and not stifled, all points of view must be given a safe and equal opportunity to speak.

Were it not for police to protect good people and their property from bad people, anarchy will ensue and eventually a single ideology will dominate and no dissent will not be permitted.

History has shown this to be the predictable outcome time and time again. If citizens believe their safety and property are not protected, all too often liberty is abandoned in exchange for the false promise of protection.

I am proudly pro-police and supportive of the honorable men and women who put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us. Incumbent upon this point of view, is that I am also fiercely pro-oversight and reform when necessary.

No profession is immune from evil or corruption.

My father transitioned from Paradise Valley’s Vice Mayor to Police Chief (Town Marshal at the time) because reform was very necessary, and change was required.

There is great truth in the saying that “Freedom is not free.” If we fail to support the officers who protect us, it is unrealistic to assume that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness would not be the first three casualties.

Editor’s Note: Jonathan Wainwright is a candidate for Paradise Valley Town Council.