I don't think they need to be defunded and are necessary, BUT they do need some re training, Over the passed 20 years the police started resembling Rambo instead of Andy Griffith. This in my opinion is the root of the problem. I have little interaction with the police even though my step son is a Sheriff, What little interaction I have had with random LEO has not been that pleasant. As an example when Tyler graduated from the Academy and was applying for a job the Sherriff called on a Friday when I was at the cabin, left a message on the machine that they would like to meet with us and to call back to set up a meeting at our home at our leisure. Fast forward until Monday, we got home Sunday night and I had to go to the field first thing, when I returned home it was about 10am and I went down to the shop. I was there a few minutes when my wife came running down hysterical that the Sheriff and his partner almost shot my dog. Seems that they couldn't wait for me to call them at my leisure and just showed up and got out of the car like they owned the place. Never mind there are no trespassing and beware of the dog signs everywhere. The dog went through the window after them and the wife was able to grab his collar. She got scraped up, the window screen got trashed and they had there hand on there guns. When I came up I was hot enough to FU<K. After letting them know how I enjoyed there surprise visit and what a disaster was narrowly avoided, I asked them if my dog was able to get out would they have shot my dog. Neither one answered or would look me in the eye. After I calmed down we had the interview in the driveway I did not invite them in. Current policy says anything that makes the officer feel threatened can be shot. Tyler has told me trainers drill into them that the most important thing is they go home at night. I disagree the most important thing is everyone goes home, not just the police. I think one of the biggest problems are the police unions. After they get off probation it is almost impossible to fire a cop. Even Tyler said that after I'm off probation he probably can't get fired for anything because the union would protect him. My comment is the union is not going to protect him from me so he better be doing the right thing out there. Are things out of control and over the top? Yes but they deserve some of it. They do need to change.