Is 'defund' a dirty word?

Police in their traditional role will always be necessary. But it’s time to consider options other than the police for many problems’ facing society where traditional policing is not needed. It’s time to “restructure” our approach to policing. Adaption is America’s strength, and organizations stuck in the past are left behind (remember Kodak?). Our public safety systems, including our police, also need to adapt and address change.

This is not just a big-city issue. In our public services, Montana faces many of the same challenges as other cities and states, including in policing. For example,...