Greater New Bedford Knows Not to Defund Police [OPINION]

The national radical movement to defund local police departments is a dangerous trend and it is irresponsible. The people of SouthCoast understand the role of their police.

Only a person who doesn’t pay attention would be against having a fully functioning local police department in their community. The other possible person who favors abolishing local police would be a diabolical criminal who pays attention to the way law enforcement interferes with their ability to rob, rape, and intimidate the general public.

There are all kinds of recent local examples of the dangerous and important work the local police do here in our corner of Massachusetts. Please keep in mind that all people are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The beautiful rural community of Mattapoisett had a disturbing criminal event just the other night. According to media reports and other sources, three males invaded a single-family home with an AK-47-style weapon and committed a robbery. The suspects fled in a car and were discovered in the city of New Bedford. Officer Hank Turgeon noticed the vehicle as the one wanted in an armed and dangerous crime and gave pursuit. All the suspects were apprehended without being injured due to the professionalism of all the police officers involved.

This crime happened in a nice town – maybe in the town you live in or at least in a neighborhood like the one in which you and your family live.

New Bedford has recently had four murders related to the city. The New Bedford detectives division recently took multiple illegal firearms off the street in multiple raids based on information they had developed through professional police techniques.

If not for the men and women of law enforcement, all of these suspects and illegal weapons would on the street and looking for additional victims.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.