Michael Brown’s fatal shooting by police a decade ago set off more than a week of protests by thousands of people in Ferguson, Missouri.

The nationwide reexamination of policing after the killing of George Floyd has led the Ivy League town in New York to consider an ambitious and contentious plan to remake its force. A proposal would replace the 63-officer Ithaca Police Department with a new Department of Community Solutions and Public Safety. As city council members consider the plan, the cross-current of impassioned reactions illustrates the challenges of overhauling traditional police forces. From New York City to small upstate towns, localities came up with proposals on training, recruitment and community engagement. The Ithaca city council can accept, reject or modify the recommendations when it votes on a resolution Wednesday.