This is who they want to defund

Wes Bowers reports for the Lodi News-Sentinel

“A Lodi Police Department officer pulled a pedestrian from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Lodi Avenue Wednesday morning, narrowly escaping a fatal collision with an oncoming train.”

Would those who call for defunding the police prefer that the train had hit the man? The report continues:

Sgt. Steve Maynard said officer Erika Urrea was patrolling the area of Lodi Avenue and Sacramento Street at about 8:44 a.m. when she saw an elderly man in a wheelchair who appeared to be stuck on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks as the arm guards were coming down to stop traffic.

“A northbound train was traveling pretty fast, and she rushed over to get him unstuck,” Maynard said. “She only had a few seconds, and for some reason, she couldn’t get the chair loose, so she grabbed hold of him and hauled him from the chair.”

Maynard said the man suffered severe injures to his legs because the train still struck him as Urrea pulled him away. He was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, Maynard said.

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Urrea, a 14-year veteran of the department, declined to comment about her actions Wednesday.

“Officer Urrea risked her own life to save another, and her actions prevented a tragedy today,” the department said. “We are extremely proud of Officer Urrea and her heroism.”

How many civilians would have had the presence of mind, the selflessness, and the courage to save this man at considerable personal risk? Some, but not many. Yet for police officers this is part of their duty.

We need more police officers, not fewer. We need more funding, not less. And this is why.