7 of the 12 cities mentioned increased their police spending

Posted on: April 4, 2022 at 16:27:02 CT

or increased the number of officers (in the case of Columbus, which reduced police spending overall but actually just moved 911 operators into a different department)



In Albuquerque, police spending has increased over the past few years, according to city documents. Instead of defunding the police, the city created an alternative department to answer certain kinds of 911 calls.

In Baton Rouge, police spending has increased over the past few years, according to city documents. Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said in June 2020 that she did not plan to defund the police.

In Columbus, police spending shrank by about $13 million between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, according to city documents. The decrease was primarily due to moving some civilian police employees, primarily 911 operators, into another part of the city's public safety department. The number of uniformed officers slightly increased year-over-year.

Indianapolis police funding increased by about $7 million between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years. In July 2021, the city allocated an additional $3.3 million for crime prevention.

Louisville increased police funding in both 2020 and 2021. Mayor Greg Fischer has rebuffed calls to defund the police.

In Toledo, police spending rose by more than $16 million between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, according to city documents. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz has spoken out against defunding the police.

In Tucson, police funding increased by about $2 million between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years, according to city documents. City council members have rejected calls to defund the police.