The law enforcement veteran explains why more money is needed for actual officers, instead of tech that may not resolve the problem.
It’s no secret that police budgets have been unfairly slashed over the past few years, mainly due to government offices responding to the countless calls to “defund the police” since the death of George Floyd in 2020.
But now it’s leaving a lasting effect, with thousands of officers quitting their jobs and some districts having to take drastic steps to get the job done – such as using drones.
A report by Fox News revealed that several cities are now using drones in the place of officers for some 911 calls, with 1,500 different departments utilizing them. These are mainly for situations such as crowd control and mapping crime scenes.
While helpful to a certain extent, they just don’t get the work done like officers do. But unfortunately, they may not have a choice.
Paul Mauro, a former inspector for the New York Police Department, noted, “Some of the cities that are rolling them out are (doing so) because they have no choice, because they can’t get cops to take the job.”
He continued, “And I think now a lot of cities, blue cities in particular, are starting to realize, well, we’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater. We need cops. You see it in places like Seattle where they had the CHOPS (Capitol Hill Organized Protest), where they had these police no-go zones and people died. There were murders and all kinds of robberies, so there’s a realization that, OK, we do need policing. The use of technology has always been part of policing.”
But it’s clear that something needs to be done, as there’s only so much a drone can do in certain situations – such as if someone is attacked or even murdered.
Joining us now to discuss this further is Michael Letts, a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt. Letts is President, Founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. His expertise in all things law and order make him a great expert for this interview. Welcome, Michael!
Q&A:
- Do drones serve a purpose when it comes to police duties that are performed today?
- That said, do you believe some governments are trying to extend their use beyond their means, especially when it comes to traditional police officers doing their jobs?
- What kind of effect have the “defund the police” campaigns left on police funding? Have thousands really left their posts due to a lack of support from government offices?
- Why do you think that President Biden hasn’t pushed forward to restore police funding, despite his promises to do so? Could this come back to haunt him when it comes to his potential re-election?
- You’re the creator of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various charitable groups and sponsorships. Tell us more about that, and why support for fellow officers is so important right now.
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA, and how those interested can help their fellow officers.
- You can visit our official InVest USA website, and learn more on the official Invest USA Twitter account. You can also learn about my new initiative at RestoringJustice.US, where we discuss lawful issues surrounding citizens of the United States.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: jerry@specialguests.com or 919-437-0001.
