I think the number of times we actually call the police for serious issues that require trained individuals is a lot less than the media makes it out to be, so having a basic but smaller trained group for initial calls or smaller issues, whether this be by employment, volunteers, or both, in order to cut down on costs. From my point of view, the police have too much money put towards them which is abused later and gives the police a sense of being higher and more important since they are paid to enforce rules that they can be excused for breaking in some cases. This sense of being above the law causes unfairness.
Basically, I believe less funding should go to police systems and be put into things like education or food/housing/basic needs for people who need the support, or mental health programs etc