You contend that in order to protect the population from violent criminal elements, we need well-funded, heavily armed police forces. However, there isn't enough data to back up that assertion. In fact, studies show that the police are not particularly effective in resolving violent crime.

I know many people think "defund the police!" is more of an impulsive, hurt, angry thought but it is, in fact, well researched. It was after Uvalde that I researched about the movement and that's when it started making sense to me.

The "solution" asked lies in community programs, once again research backed. Study has shown that they are an efficient way of reducing crimes and improving social harmony. Not to mention a strong percentage of violent crimes go unsolved each year.

A PNAS study shows that, in the US, one of the main causes of death for young men is police brutality and violence. One in 1,000 black men can be being killed by police during their lifetime.

I do not understand, how will we reform a system that is so strongly based on racism, misogyny and queerphobia? What is the centrist approach in this? We've had this system for so long and it just doesn't seem to get any better?

That being said, defund the police is demilitarizing them. Taking away their power, but still having systems of support where they are social workers, trained mental health support workers etc.

source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/07/over-past-60-years-more-spending-police-hasnt-necessarily-meant-less-crime/

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1821204116