One of the most persistent myths in American political discourse is that Black Americans broadly support defunding the police. That may play well online or on cable news, but serious polling paints a different picture: Black residents in high-crime areas overwhelmingly want effective policing and stronger community-law enforcement relationships—not fewer officers.
Pew Research finds that 58% of Black adults in urban areas want more police presence, not less. Gallup reports over 80% want police to spend the same or more time in their neighborhoods. These are real voices from streets where crime is a daily threat.
Yet while residents prioritize realistic safety, too many politicians—yes, too many Black politicians too—have leaned into “Defund” rhetoric to build national platforms and fundraising networks. They speak to donors far removed from day-to-day street life and then return to the status quo. The outcome? An even wider gap between political theater and ground-level reality.
Bail Reform: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes
From my 33 years in law enforcement, bail reform stands out as a cautionary tale. It was sold as compassionate meant to help low-level, non-violent offenders who couldn’t afford bail. But in too many cases, it let violent repeat offenders loose on the streets of Black communities. The intention was kindness; the result was chaos. Instead of selectively freeing low-level offenders and connecting them with resources, the reforms were applied so broadly that violent criminals returned to inflict more harm on the communities the policy was supposed to protect.
The Black community has never had time to breathe because decisions about public safety in our neighborhoods are too often made by people who don’t live there and don’t face the consequences. Worse, many of our own Black politicians are powerless to stop it — not because they don’t see the damage, but because their campaign funds come from the very organizations that push these bad policies. And those organizations build their platforms on emotional appeals instead of on practical, proven outcomes that actually make life better for Black people.
America’s Black neighborhoods don’t just need policing… they need everything else that supports it.
Systemic failures—decades of underfunded schools, mental health deserts, lack of job training, poor infrastructure—have created environments where crime takes root. A Wharton study makes this crystal clear: even among similarly middle-class neighborhoods, gun homicide is over four times higher in predominately Black neighborhoods than white ones, largely due to underinvestment and residential segregation.
Black households are also more likely to experience crime, both property and violent, than white households — a reality rooted in these same systemic shortfalls.
No Conspiracy, Just Neglect
Let’s be real: there’s no white supremacist plot driving crime in Black neighborhoods. The conspiracy is something far uglier and more insidious — we fail over and over to address root causes, and it’s far easier to blame a political party or racist white people than to fix the problem.
When leaders treat public safety like a fundraising stunt, they leave families behind. Businesses close. Schools decay. And every day, the ledger is written in grief and bodies.
The Real Fix? Integrated, Sustainable Solutions
Residents demand more than policing; they want safer streets backed by functioning systems — well-funded schools, access to mental health care, job programs, safe housing, and restorative community relationships. These aren’t easy or glamorous policies, but they’re what actually work.
If Democratic and Black leaders are going to push back against the White House’s actions, then the question becomes: What is their plan? Because opposing someone else’s approach without presenting a serious alternative is not leadership, and Black communities can’t afford more leadership that leaves them less safe.
References
Pew Research Center. Public Trust in Government: 1958–2023. Poll data on Black adults in urban areas wanting more police presence. https://www.pewresearch.orgGallup. Most Americans Say Police Spending Should Stay the Same or Increase. July 2020. https://news.gallup.com/poll/316571/americans-say-police-spending-stay-increase.aspxBureau of Justice Statistics. Criminal Victimization, 2022. Higher violent and property crime victimization among Black households. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv22.pdfBureau of Justice Statistics. Violent Victimization by Race or Hispanic Origin, 2008–2021. Robbery and violent crime rates by race. https://bjs.ojp.govWharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Regardless of Socioeconomic Status, Black Communities Face Higher Gun Homicides. https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/regardless-socioeconomic-status-black-communities-face-higher-gun-homicides-says-wharton-studyCouncil on Criminal Justice. Crime Trends in U.S. Cities – Year-End 2024 Update. Declines and disparities in urban crime trends. https://counciloncj.org/crime-trends-in-u-s-cities-year-end-2024-update/U.S. Census Bureau. Demographic Characteristics by Race and Hispanic Origin. Data on majority-Black cities and neighborhoods. https://data.census.govTeen Vogue. The Myth of Black-on-Black Crime. Analysis of racialized crime narratives. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/black-on-black-crime-myth
America doesn’t need more slogans—it needs courage, accountability, and action. In “Tolerance Is for Cowards,”veteran law enforcement expert Damon K. Jones delivers a hard-hitting blueprint to end the cycle of police misconduct, political cowardice, and systemic failure in public safety—especially in Black communities.
With over 33 years of frontline experience, Jones exposes the myths that paralyze real reform and offers a groundbreaking vision: the Extended Policing Strategy (EPS). This strategy shifts policing from a warrior mindset to one of community collaboration, economic investment, mental health support, and structural accountability.
This is not a book of complaints—it’s a battle plan for transformation. It challenges Black police officers to step up. It calls out politicians who confuse photo-ops with leadership. And it dismantles the false choice between safety and justice.
Whether you’re a policymaker, police chief, activist, or concerned citizen, “Tolerance Is for Cowards” is the essential guide to building a system that serves with integrity—not intimidation.
