https://blackgirlnerds.com/police-have-killed-more-and-more-civilians-since-george-floyd-but-cop-budgets-just-keep-going-up/

It’s been over five years since George Floyd’s murder was broadcast to the world in a gut-wrenching video that sparked global outrage. For just a moment, it felt like the world might actually change. Protesters poured into the streets, while cities and major corporations pledged reform. “Defund the police” became a uniting cry. Politicians spoke with sudden urgency about reimagining what public safety could look like.

But fast forward to today, and the numbers tell a different story. Not only have police budgets in major cities ballooned, but police are actually killing more civilians now than they did before the death of George Floyd.

Let that sink in.

After all the marches, all the murals, all the panels and promises — we’re not just back where we started. In some ways, we’re worse off.

According to Mapping Police Violence, more than 1,300 people were killed by police in 2023, making it the deadliest year on record. That’s an increase from about 1,100 in 2020, the year George Floyd was killed. These are not just isolated incidents in certain areas. Police violence has remained consistent across different cities, political leanings, and crime rates.

The truth is police killings have not shown a statistically significant correlation to violent crime rates. This is important, as one of the most common justifications for increased police budgets is “rising crime.” But the data doesn’t support the idea that more policing—or more money for police—leads to safer outcomes.

At the same time, cities are approving record-breaking budgets for their police departments. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston — each of them has steadily increased their police funding over the last several years. In 2024, the NYPD was allocated over $11 billion when including pension and fringe benefits. That’s more than many countries spend on their entire military.

It raises a disturbing question: what exactly are we paying for?

In the immediate aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, dozens of cities pledged to cut or reallocate police funds. Minneapolis, the center of the uprising, even vowed to dismantle its police department. However, by 2021, much of that momentum had disappeared. Public fears about rising crime — often fueled by sensational media coverage and political fearmongering — led to a backlash. “Defund the police” became a dirty phrase. Worse, politicians sensing which way the wind was blowing quietly walked back their promises.

What happened instead seemed like a “refund” movement. Police departments across the country not only got their money back, but in some cases received even more. The same institutions that were being held up as models of systemic injustice were rewarded with billions in taxpayer dollars.

While the phrase “defund the police” has sparked intense debate, it’s important we understand the range of ideas it represents. For some, it means a complete rethinking of public safety, while for others, it’s about reallocating certain funds toward social services like mental health care, housing, and education—areas that advocates believe can prevent crime and reduce the burden on police. Some critics argue that reducing police budgets could compromise public safety, especially in communities already dealing with high crime. Supporters counter that smarter investments in communities can make lead to them being safer in the long run. Ultimately, the conversation is not just about dollars—it’s about how best to keep people safe and supported.

Meanwhile, alternative forms of public safety — like mental health response teams, violence interrupters, and housing-first programs — were often left unfunded or under-supported.

The problem isn’t just individual officers. It’s a culture of impunity, backed by powerful police unions, vague use-of-force policies, and a lack of meaningful oversight.

Unfortunately, most police officers who kill civilians face no legal consequences. In fact, less than two percent of fatal police shootings result in a charge. When police officers are held accountable, it’s usually because of video evidence or overwhelming public pressure — not because the system worked the way it should.

We can talk about individual morality but I don’t believe that’s the real issue. Let’s talk about structure and how it is built to protect the status quo. We know that police violence doesn’t impact all communities the same. Black people are nearly three times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans. Native Americans and Latinos are also disproportionately affected.

This isn’t about body counts. It’s about what it means to live in a community where trust in law enforcement is damaged, where conflict too often turns fatal, and where taxpayer money is funneled into a system that feels more like surveillance than safety.

George Floyd’s murder reshaped “the talk” that many Black families have long had with their children about how to safely interact with police. It’s no longer just a quiet rite of survival passed down through generations, it became a more urgent, collective conversation about racial injustice, dignity, and fear. Parents are now forced to explain not just how to avoid confrontation, but that doing everything right still may not guarantee safety.

Floyd’s death laid bare a painful truth: that Black lives are too often seen as disposable in the eyes of the law — and that children must navigate a world that does not always protect them equally.

The United States spends more on policing than any other country in the world. Yet, we don’t have lower crime rates. We don’t have less violence. What we do have is a deeply unequal society where policing is often a band-aid for broader social issues: poverty, mental illness, addiction, homelessness.

Would it be too much to imagine a different approach to public safety — one that doesn’t begin and end with armed officers? Imagine crisis teams trained in de-escalation responding to mental health emergencies. Imagine well-funded schools, youth programs, accessible healthcare, and stable housing as the foundation of safety—not an afterthought.

These aren’t radical ideas. They’re just inconvenient for a system that has, for generations, relied on punishment instead of prevention.

It’s easy to feel cynical. To look at the headlines and feel as if nothing has changed. But change doesn’t happen overnight or in a straight line. It happens when we keep asking the hard questions, even when the media moves on from a story.

We can’t just settle for performative gestures or budgetary tweaks. We need a fundamental shift in how we think about safety, justice, and accountability. That means questioning why we keep pouring money into a system that isn’t making us safer — and who benefits from keeping it that way?

George Floyd’s death sparked a conversation the country still is not ready to finish. The question now is: will we keep having it — or will we pay more and more just to keep pretending?

The post Police Have Killed More and More Civilians Since George Floyd, But Cop Budgets Just Keep Going Up appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.