Traffic violations & drug possession aren't just for the offense per se - they're an opportunity for law enforcement to investigate larger crimes. Merely stopping a vehicle allows officers to check for outstanding warrants & take a look at the car & its occupants.
Professor Seo isn't quite up to date on her facts. Technology definitely can & has replaced the need for law enforcement to tickets speeders, red light runners, & toll violators - the license plate is noted & the summons is mailed to the offender virtually anywhere EZ pass is in effect. No person is involved. Right now, it's not in use in all 50 states, but it does happen on federal highways & will eventually get to the states.
Her idea that specialized forces be trained to handle homelessness, domestic violence, speeding, DUIs, gunshots, and robberies isn't new. It's been effectively used in large cities for decades. NYC alone has transit, homeless, health/hospital, public housing, environmental, school, & other law enforcement divisions - for each borough. Even among the NYPD itself, there are specialized divisions for homicide, robbery, vice, & major crimes. That model could be scaled down for smaller cities.
What the police shouldn't be doing is the work of social workers - e.g., educating DUIs about substance abuse treatment on the spot - they'll get that in court & an offer of a sentence that includes AA attendance or residential rehab. Domestic abuse, including abuse of children, escalates quickly & can require the armed response of a trained police officer not a civilian. Again, these are matters that are governed by a judge (& in NYC, a family court judge) by orders that may already be in place. Cops shouldn't be in schools.
Homeless is a social problem that is way beyond a police solution.
Yes, police deployment needs to be re-examined in every municipality & bad cops need to be kicked out before their excessive force complaints reach 5 or 17.
I guess the Professor hasn't been through Byron or Centerville, GA .
They love to give out those $280+ tickets no matter who you are. lately anything they can get you for is fair game. Gotta build back the city coffers since tax revenue is down.
