When protesters cry ‘defund the police,’ what does it mean?

MICHAEL BALSAMO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Protesters are pushing to "defund the police" over the death of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement. Their chant has become a rallying cry — and a stick for President Donald Trump to use on Democrats as he portrays them as soft on crime. But what does "defund the police" mean? It's not necessarily about gutting police department budgets. Still, some activists and lawmakers have also raised the possibility of completely disbanding police departments, clouding the more complicated message. WHAT IS THE 'DEFUND THE POLICE' MOVEMENT? Supporters say it isn't about eliminating police departments or stripping agencies of all of their money. They say it is time for the country to address systemic problems in