From a Washington Post column by Megan McArdle headlined “America needs a West Point for police officers”:

A low crime rate is an indispensable prerequisite for any kind of serious, compassionate criminal justice reform. If you doubt this, just watch the videos of a town hall that took place in Oakland, Calif.

Oakland is not exactly known for its rock-ribbed conservatism or its tough-on-crime credentials. In State Assembly District 18, where Oakland is located, Joe Biden won almost 10 times as many votes as Donald Trump in 2020. The city government was among those that became enamored of “defund the police” initiatives in the wake of George Floyd’s murder.