I'm sorry that your friend had to go through this, and the loss of a life is never good.
That said, I cannot support the petition. When I see metropolitan police departments in small towns buying riot gear and repurposed tanks -- or, even when they get them for free, agreeing to pay the maintenance on the gear in perpetuity -- then complain that they don't have enough money, it's worse than frustrating. We see the average police encounter change on a daily basis from a friendly "hey, how's it going?" to no-knock raids where family pets are shot and property is destroyed, and why? Because they were looking for a gram of marijuana... or worse yet, they have the wrong house, and someone dies because it sounds like a burglary.
I have unlimited respect for the community-based firemen and police officers that do a tough job every day, and I despise those who do it for the power trips (those who usually end up on the news because they took someone's video camera away, or kicked a drunk person because they could). Many police departments, especially those in large cities, have been able to transform themselves into paramilitary units where the entire public is the enemy to them.
So, with all due respect, and my condolences to your friend, I cannot sign that petition. Police departments have enough money, they just haven't prioritized it like the rest of us must do on a daily basis.