If you think about it, law enforcement is usually the most expensive and risky way to address community problems.

If government operated more like a private business, much of what law enforcement does would be dedicated to lower paid employees that specialize in the task and have the expertise to do it well – with much less emphasis on enforcement.

For example:

• Traffic accidents – better addressed by rookie city traffic engineers who could better analyze the crash and focus on improving road design not on issuing tickets
• Accidental fires – better addressed by fire fighters or other city workers like construction flaggers to direct traffic
• Medical emergencies – better addressed by EMS services, usually not much of a role for police
• Traffic enforcement – automated devices like speed cameras and license plates readers run against databases and mailed citations are not biased based on race or social class (like driving an old beat up car)
• Directing traffic at emergency sites – best addressed by rookie city construction flaggers
• Parking management at special events – best managed by maintenance and other laborers at the venue putting on the event
• Homelessness – best addressed by social services agencies
• Vagerency – best addressed by social service agencies and mental health professionals
• Mental illness – best addressed by mental health professionals that work out in the field

To be sure, law enforcement should be given assistance in transitioning out of the public sector to private occupations. Cities could work with private employers to make the transition as easy as possible. They could allow the police officer to continue to remain in the pension system and receive public health care – the private sector employer would cut a check to the government. Pistol permits could also be transfered over seamlessly.

These heroes could be treated with respect and gratitude while in transitioning them to private sector work while the government finds more efficient methods of delivering essential services then relying on the police for so many services.