LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Monday, January 9 marks National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. It’s a day set aside to honor those who serve and protect their communities, and acknowledge the difficult life-and-death situations they willingly put themselves in to help others.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked Michiganders to take time to thank those who “put their lives on the line.”

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However, people did not let the governor forget her June 2020 comments where she said she supports the “spirit of defund the police” in a June 2020 interview with The Root.

“It’s really about reprioritizing and rebuilding communities, not just policing. That this is really about where do we, where do we prioritize our resources,” Gov. Whitmer said during the 2020 interview. “You look at budgets and they’re focused on policing — they should be focused on education, transportation, access to health care, access to skills and leveling the playing field. I think you do all those other things, you don’t need all the money that’s going to the police departments. So, yeah, I mean, the spirit of it, I do support that spirit of it,” Whitmer said.

Following this interview, Gov. Whitmer attempted to clarify her comments with the Detroit Free Press.

“I don’t believe police should be defunded,” Gov. Whitmer said in a follow up interview. “[However,] what I hear from all of my friends who are part of this moment and who are leading on the front lines is we have a real need for greater investment in communities.”

 

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During the same month that year, Whitmer faced criticism for marching with Black Lives Matter during the height of her COVID-19 lockdowns and social distancing protocols.