zlacker

I'm sympathetic to the idea that neighborhoods have a right not to be policed if they don't want to. But historically, the alternative to effective policing hasn't been peace and harmony; it's been protection rackets and violent mobs. I think we need to have some confidence that we're not plunging cities back to the crime rates of the 90s before we go down that route.

>>SpicyL+(OP)
That's a fair concern. I would go beyond your initial statement though, and say that if neighborhoods don't want to be policed it's likely they know their own interests better than anyone else. Some police departments do a good job even in bad neighborhoods; others... seem to exacerbate the existing problems. I can think of no better litmus test than what the residents themselves think.