Of all the functions local government has, protecting the lives and property of residents seems like a pretty decent #1 priority to have. I'm an Oakland resident. We have a serious crime problem here. Ask my neighbors whether they think we should reduce the police budget.
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Violent crime mostly goes unsolved everywhere in the United States and, indeed, the world. It's very hard to solve these crimes. Community advocates are right that prevention/intervention need to be prioritized, but that means cops *on the streets.*
...and surveillance, and of course community programs. But frankly a lot of early interventions work in part because they can be and are court-ordered. A lot of people wind up on a better path because it's that or jail.