St. Clair Today

State Rep. Gary Eisen (R-St. Clair Township) said that police play a vital role in the communities they serve, after voting for a resolution against defunding agencies in Michigan and across the country.

House Resolution 277, adopted by the Michigan House of Representatives last week, calls on communities throughout the Wolverine State not to slash funding for law enforcement in light of the recent protests.

“[Police] look out for the well-being of our families, answer the call to serve whenever we have an emergency and deter criminals,” Eisen said on the Michigan House Republicans website. “Failing to provide proper funding for law enforcement would be a dangerous mistake.”

The death of 46-year-old George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police last month sparked a wave of protests nationwide, including Michigan. Floyd, a black man, perished after a white officer’s knee was pressed against his neck for almost nine minutes, making it impossible for him to breathe.

While the protests seek justice for Floyd and numerous black men and women who have died in police custody, demonstrators have also clamored for funding to be taken away from law enforcement.

Eisen believes defunding the police would worsen an already-existing problem, asserting that departments would not have enough money to hire well-trained officers in good standing.

“We can’t forget that the overwhelming majority of our local officers are trustworthy and reputable people who put on their uniforms each and every day because they’re committed to protecting our communities and helping our families, friends and neighbors,” the lawmaker said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “Many police departments are barely scraping by with the funding they have now. Reducing their funding would likely end up hurting many of the people who need protection most.”

The House sent copies of HR 277 to several entities, including the Michigan Municipal League.