ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A North Carolina lawmaker has vowed to penalize cities that reallocate police funds.
The move comes after Asheville City Council moved $770,000 from the city police department’s budget to other areas.
[ ALSO READ: Asheville votes to reduce police budget by 3% ]
The lawmaker believes an anti-police sentiment has taken over the city. Since June, 31 Asheville police officers have resigned from the force.
Republican State Sen. Chuck Edwards, who’s running for re-election and represents a small part of Asheville, called out members over the cuts and said he plans to introduce a bill that will penalize the city when it comes to state funding, according to WLOS.
Edwards told WLOS that he’s looking into how the Republican-led General Assembly in North Carolina could penalize Asheville and other cities in the state that choose to re-direct funds from the police department.
[ Chief: ‘Unprecedented’ number of Asheville police officers have resigned ]
Debra Campbell, Asheville’s first Black city manager, said the cuts were “initial steps” to reallocating police funding.
This browser does not support the video element.