The idea of “defunding the police” may have economic backlash for many towns.
The trucking industry is thinking twice about sending their services to areas that are calling on a defunding of the police, given the valuable cargo in shipment and the concern for driver safety.
Mike Kucharski, owner of JKC Trucking, told Fox News that his company made the pull because “our first priority is our drivers and their safety.”
“We decided to take this step for multiple reasons. Number one is that Our first priority is to support our drivers and their safety when they are on the road. Defunding the police is a bad idea because when you’re on the road for weeks or days at a time driving 11 hours with valuable cargo, everybody wants to steal this. When you’re a truck driver for long enough on the road there’s no safe place. Violnce is everwhere so if you’re going to be having valuable cargo and no police to rely on who’s going to protect our drivers?
In addition to the drivers’ safety, Kucharski mentioned the threat to valuables when there are no police to provide safety.
“Another issue that I am seeing in the future is I have cargo insurance, liability insurance, fiscal damage insurance, and I am very curious how when I renew my contracts at the end of the year, if there is going to be language — if I am going to even have coverage going into these places,” Kucharski said.
“Right now I have coverage going all over domestically. You have to get special coverage for Canada or Mexico or you might have to buy special riders for this on top of everything.”
The idea of defunding the police has become popular not only among the courts of public opinion but with lawmakers as well.
But as we can see with major industrial brands pulling out, safety might not be the only reason it’s a good idea to fund the police.
In 1992 a truck driver named Reginald Denny was pulled from his big rig during the Rodney King riots and beaten nearly to death. Denny suffers from physical ailments to the day.
This story has resurfaced as drivers are fearful of being surrounded by protestors with violent intents.
Truck drivers specifically are a target, considering the valuable assets they ship.
I totally agree with you sir, with all you said. Very true me as a driver I always have in mind the #1 thing the safety of us drivers and everyone else around us. Sincerely Rdz.
There is a huge difference between defunding the police and unfunding the police. Defunding means that some of the funds currently assigned to the policing budget will, for example, be used to fund professionals trained to deal with mental health related calls that police are not trained to deal with and that the police often do not deal well with. JKC Trucking is possibly a Trump supporter as this falls totally in line with Trump values. That too could explain why they determine prior to this action exactly what defunding means. And yes JKC everyone, inclusive of your drivers should be properly protected BUT not at the expense of those with mental health issues. I use the mental health example here however it is only one of the areas that police are not properly trained in …… let the police do police work and other professionals do what they are trained to do in order for us all to be safe and get the help needed when needed.
BULLSHIT De-funding the Police is De-funding the Police… Unfunding the Police is the Same thing just the NEW TALKING POINT…What Stupidity We all know what it means so Stop the BULLSHIT.
Exactly. Mpls City Council wants to ABOLISH the MPD.
Please explain to me what situations you deem not dangerous?? Or a Mental health issue?
Really? Never heard such an ignorant thing.Where do you people come up with this crap? It means taking money away from the police when what they need is more money. They both mean the same. Now quit trying to fool people with that mumbo jumbo. We all know what it means and we do not like it.
Before you try to confuse people with the prefixes de- and un- maybe you should understand what they mean. Or maybe you can become a truck driver willing to take the chance in those areas, instead of pointing your finger at a group and what your perceptive is on their values. I’m glad to see that there are comments were common sense still exist. This world has definitely lost the 3 C’ : common sense, compassion, and courtesy among so many other morals and ethics. Pray for this country for only God can save us!
How pathetic and dumb are the left becoming? Always trying to change the meanings of words to fit their agenda. Up until now, defunding meant to remove funding.
de·fund: prevent from continuing to receive funds
Now these pathetic excuses for educated people are trying to tell you to hell with every dictionary. That they are smarter than all dictionaries and only THEY know the real definition of defunding.
Guess what you imbeciles. No one is falling for it. Most of us have a 4th grade level of vocabulary and are not falling for it. Sad your education is so lacking.
You CANNOT defund the police or “reallocate” money elsewhere and expect any security at all anywhere. These politicians that have “security” have NO PROBLEMS with defunding the police because those jokes have their own “police” and they don’t have to worry.
I’m all for the trucking companies pulling ALL loads going into or out of these stupid cities for calling for “no police”. Let’s see how far their “no police” stance goes when they don’t have any food or anything else for the people to buy in their cities
I agree those places will be unsafe no matter what B.S. they tell you. They have idiots running the city.
Jaf just as you call JCK Trump supporters then we must assume that you are a Democrat. And what that has to do with anything is beyond me. Parents are not allowed to chastise their children and now they run amping is. As soon as you said “BUT” it negates every thing you said before. They don’t deliver to thugs that’s it that’s all.
I also support the truck drivers and companies for protecting them. I also believe, truck drivers should be able to carry fire arms.
Unfunding and Defunding is the EXACT same thing. Taking money away from POLICE in any Terminology is not very intelligent, As far as sending “TRAINED PROFESSIONALS” for Mental Health issues Who makes that decision? How do the Social Workers know if it’s a Mental Health issue happening on the Street? It’s just another Ignorant talking point the Marxist are using. So take money from the People Protecting the people to give money to a Bureaucratic System that will do very little to send out Social Workers to deal with Drunk Drivers and Mental Health Issues how MORONIC. I used to drive Truck in the 80’s to early 90’s and NYC was a complete DISASTER. Hunts Point didn’t even keep a Good Talley of the Dead numbers. These Cities allowing Criminals to have the Freedom to inflect pain and suffering on the Law-abiding citizen is out of control and the Mayors should be arrested for Aiding and abetting and imprisoned with the RIOTERS. I Fully endorse any Trucking Company that does not let their Trucks enter these WAR ZONES…Hell yeah Shut off all Goods to these Areas until they Follow the LAW
In general, Democrat politicians don’t believe in enforcing the law. That is all this amounts to. As just ONE example Portland has had more murders in the last month than they had in ANY month in the last 30 years. Ignoring crime never ends well unless you are on the criminal’s side.
80% of black Americans want the same level of police or more in their neighborhoods. So saying that defunding the police has become “popular” is not true. It’s popular with leftist politicians and leftist media and collectively their terrorist organizations Antifa and BLM.
I lived in La during the riot and let me tell you it was not a pretty sight, so I agree protect your truck drivers, they are what supply all of us with then things we need keep them safe and dont allow them into the cities where they are running the cities, see how quick they stop all of this stupid shit, when they can’t get any food maybe their stupid asses will wake up and they will stop all of this nonsense!
Are there other companies doing this or just the one? Because it won’t do anything unless all the companies ban together and make a unified decision not to deliver. There are tons of trucking companies out there. If one company won’t deliver another one will just pick it up. :(. I’m all for it to keep our drivers safe. My husband is a driver and I wouldn’t want him to risk anything trying to make a delivery. We’ve already had this discussion on what would he do if … happens. U may think you know, but when the time comes reaction may take over instead of thinking.