[iptpus]

> Also "defund the police" is a shorthand that typically means "reduce direct law enforcement funding and instead fund other community engagement programs".

"Reform the police" is much more universalist term that people across multiple political spectrums would have gotten behind (and it's still memorable).

I'm not sure why it wasn't used instead.

[bullfightonmars]

Reform the Police had been the modus oparandi for fixinf policing for >50 years. It hasn’t worked. That is why more absolute language has been used.

Policing organizations/unions/departments have refused to change, evolve, or improve their behavior.

[simondotau]

Perhaps then the slogan should be closer to "Replace the Police". Something that represents both the dismantling and rebuilding of police forces.

Personally I'm a big fan of requiring a much, much higher standard of training than police have now. Especially when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. The best way to minimise the consequences is to ensure that we have maximised their skill potential with the forms of intervention which have the least risk of permanent consequences.

[ryanbrunner]

There's probably a larger group of people that want to see portions of the police budget reallocated than the police disbanded and reformed. There's really not a great term that perfectly captures what everyone wants, but at least some common ground is "less funding", which "defund" is at least close to if you squint.