"A feeling of safety comes from within." --- This is an actively counterproductive statement. Just look at the impetus behind "defund the police": the real police violence causes people of color to feel unsafe. On the flipside, crime often involves real violence that makes people feel unsafe. You can argue that policing isn't the answer to crime, but real danger is the root of feeling unsafe, even if (like everything) it is mediated by perception. A "culture of safety" must be rooted in a reality of safety.

I have lived in NYC and Bay area. Both times safe places in those areas. And sure I have never seen a crime happen.

But very close to me (like 15 min of walking), there are major armed crimes happening. There are enough guns and people willing to use them in this country that it is just not safe without the police.

There are many reasons for this, I probably agree with most of them, but until they are all solved we need the police.

I grew up in Norway, did not feel like this there at all. Of course crime does still exist, but I would not care how far it was to my local police station.

Also lived in the UK, felt very safe compared to the US.