Able & Baker: Episode 21-Defund the Police Movement

In this episode, former Minneapolis police officers, Chris and Karina Kelley, discuss the origins of the Defund the Police Movement which started in 2014 with the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri by Officer Darren Wilson who was later exonerated.

We discuss the shooting implications of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, and Freddie Gray which ignited massive protests across the nation and helped create the Black Lives Matter organization, a massive grifting organization that personally benefited the founding members but did not substantially contribute to any meaningful reforms.  Black Lives Matter protests spread across the nation which intensified in 2020 with the death of George Floyd by Officer Derick Chauvin of the Minneapolis Police Department. 

The actions and inactions of police, city and state leadership in Minnesota set the stage for the catastrophic events seen nationwide as well as overseas; police staffing nationwide has plummeted and everyone's lives are worse off than they were even five years ago. 

In this episode we also honor the lives of recently fallen law enforcement officers:

Deputy Sheriff John Durm (Marion County Sheriff's Office-Indiana) was killed in the line of duty on 7/10/23 after he was attacked by a prisoner he had recently transported to the hospital for an appointment. He is survived by his wife and son who are also employees of Marion County Sheriff's Office.  Please think of his family and community!

Police Officer Jake Wallin (Fargo Police Department) was killed in the line of duty on 7/14/23 while responding to a traffic accident; Officer Wallin was ambushed by a gunman who shot and killed him as well as wounding three other Fargo officers on scene. Officer Wallin had Minnesota connections and served in the MN National Guard. Both communities, his department and family are reeling from this incident.  We're so sorry this happened to you, you did not deserve....your life mattered! (OMDP.org)

Police Officer Anthony Ferguson (Alamogordo Police Department-New Mexico) was killed in the line of duty on 7/16/23 by a suspect who shot at him during a foot pursuit after a traffic accident. He is survived by his daughter, son, mother and father.  The killing of our law enforcement officers has got to stop! The war on police has got to stop! The war on innocent lives who are lost due to lack of policing and complete lawlessness has got to stop! Where is Black Lives Matter now?

* Kessler, P. & Williams, J. ( 2015, November 20- 4:10 pm) "MPD Chief, Union Head spar over 4th Precinct Protests on WCCO Radio". http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/11...

* Officer Down Memorial Page (Twitter) ODMP.org