Defund the Police!

Recently we’ve been hearing a lot of agitation to “Defund the Police,” to radically rethink our approach to keeping our cities safe. Of course, this has generated much political debate as to the exact meaning of this phrase. Which police functions are really necessary, and which can better be handled by other agencies? If someone is having a mental health breakdown, for example, should we call the police or EMS? Proponents of defunding the police argue that often the police only exacerbate precarious situations. Instead, they should be handled by people trained in de-escalation and conflict mediation.

So, who’s right? Do we need to defund the police? Should we be diverting more of our resources to social service agencies instead of the police? What is the Torah’s perspective?

The Torah portion of Shoftim begins with a commandment to appoint “judges and police” in all our territories. After all, the rulings of judges are useless without police to enforce them. In our daily prayers we make a similar request: “Restore our judges as in earlier times, and our advisors as of old.” In our prayers, we ask for the judges to return, but mention of police is absent. Instead, we ask G-d to return to us “our advisors.”

What’s the difference between a police officer and an advisor? For that matter, what’s the difference between a judge and an advisor?

When a judge hands down a decree, we accept their ruling as final. Although judges do explain their rationale, our acceptance of their ruling does not depend on us agreeing with their reasoning. We need to follow the judge’s ruling whether we understand or agree with it or not. A police officer is an extension of the judge’s power--his role is simply to see to it that the judge’s ruling is enforced.

The role of a yo’etz, advisor, is different. An advisor or counselor is someone that we can relate to, someone who understands our problems, needs and concerns, who can readily identify obstacles that hold us back from doing what’s right. The counselor is there to ameliorate those problems and thus smooth over situations in which police might otherwise be involved.

In the time of Moshiach, the role of police will be eliminated. We will no longer need police or guards to physically impose discipline. Instead we will be guided by yoatzim, who will help all of us be our best possible selves. Moshiach will serve the dual role of both shofet, judge, and yoetz, advisor. He will be far removed from us, on the one hand, able to hand down teachings that we could never grasp on our own. On the other hand he will be close to us, able to understand our fears and struggles and guide us to following in the way of the Torah.