I think we need to remember that the call for defunding is not only about removing police but about providing alternatives that would build safety that would not require policing.
If we were to give an example, we can look to the policing of encampments in Toronto or Hamilton, where people are routinely made to leave the places where they are living outdoors. Of course, being offered long-term affordable or free housing is an alternative that does not require policing, for example, right? The presence of safety, healthy food and decent housing is something that provides much more safety than law enforcement officers can.
Of course, it's always a double-pronged choice, which is not only about divesting but also about reinvesting, about making sure that it's not only about taking something away but also about putting something in place.