Raleigh, N.C. – State House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) responded Wednesday to the City of Asheville’s leaders voting to defund law enforcement by $770,000 despite more than 10% of its police force already resigning this year.
Speaker Moore criticized state House Democrats last week for their own pledge to defund law enforcement, saying “I consider this pledge, signing this pledge, a direct attack on all those in law enforcement in North Carolina.”
The City of Asheville is “reimagining public safety” amid a years-long uptick in violent crime.“
Speaker Moore released a statement calling on Asheville’s leaders to reverse course and commit additional funding for critical public safety resources.
“First, House Democrats pledged to defund law enforcement in North Carolina, and now the City of Asheville has actually done it as over 10% of its police force resigns,” Speaker Moore said Wednesday.“North Carolinians are facing a very real and dangerous agenda to cut critical resources for the police officers who protect their families.”“The Republican-led General Assembly will consider all options when we return to keep North Carolinians safe in cities like Asheville that are advertising safe harbor to criminals by intentionally reducing funds for law enforcement.”
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