ROCKLAND (BDN) — Rockland residents have proposed a new petition that calls for city council to gradually defund the Rockland Police Department.

The petition asks that the departments $2.2. million budget be reallocated to community programs over the next few years. It was received by the council Monday night, and they have since voiced support of it, stating that the issue will be further discussed at a later date.

Rockland City Councilor Ben Dorr said that ““I welcome the opportunity to have a conversation about how to make our city a better and safer place for the people who are being underserved… This is just the beginning of a long process.”

The petition has gathered more than 600 signatures and with demands that the city allocate more funding towards substance-abuse recovery programs, anti-racism education be taught in schools, mental health and social workers to be included in first-responder calls.