MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)-- The defunding of public safety offices has been a hot button issue in the US.
Closing the chapter on the controversial "stop and frisk" policy..
Commissioner dermot shea, nypd: "this is a seismic shift in the defunding of police departments is a hot button issue across the country ... as activists are calling for new ways... for local governments to help.
41nbc's peyton lewis has a closer look ... at what defunding would look like.
0:46 1:22 "i do think they need more money allocated to our sheriff's department but i also think we need much more dollars allocated toward our mental health services, our youth services, our job training services."
Protesters around the country are asking their local governments to consider defunding police departments to help decrease police brutality incidents.
Defunding would mean less money put towards weapons and vehicles for police officers, and more money put towards community outreach and social services.
In macon-bibb, the sheriff's office budget for next year is $49 million dollars.
Included in that cost is at least 40 hours of training for each deputy, equipment, and protective gear.
Sheriff davis says defunding is not an option.
"as far as talking about defunding law enforcement or defunding the sheriff's department is a non-starter for me because we perform an essential service and this community needs us to be out there to stop the bad people c1 3 b13 from terrorizing and harming this community.
" sheriff davis says defunding commissioner watkins says -- as it stands-- the commission has no plans
The defunding of public safety offices has been a hot button issue here in the United States.