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Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon speaks at a press conference on the shooting in downtown Austin on June 12.
Photo:
Ana Ramirez / Associated press
Reduce policy funding, and you get less policy. That’s what Austin residents are learning the hard way this month as law enforcement tries to sort out their emergency response amid a severe staff shortage.
As of this month, the Austin Police Department has asked the public not to call 911 for “non-emergency situations” if there is “no immediate threat to life or property.” “when the crimes are no longer in progress” and “when the suspect (s) are no longer at the scene or in sight. The directive applies to burglaries, thefts, prostitution, vandalism and to several other crimes Police urged victims and witnesses to call 311 or file a report online instead.
The police department says it will reduce contact between police and the public in the event of a pandemic. But the new policy is also largely “the result of recent staffing issues that we have encountered, and as we work on it we are looking to see how we can deploy staff in the most appropriate manner” and respond “to these calls which need it most, declared the police chief Joseph Chacon during a press conference at the end of September.
In fiscal year 2020-2021, the Austin Police Department’s budget was $ 292.9 million, up from $ 434.5 million the year before. City council directly cut the police budget by $ 31.5 million last year.
He also put $ 121.7 million in a contingency fund meant to “decouple or reinvent certain public safety functions” from the police department but which ended up funding police operations, spokeswoman Alicia Dean said. from the city. City council also canceled three cadet classes and cut 150 officers from the budget last year, said City Councilor Mackenzie Kelly, a staunch supporter of the police.
Under new state law passed earlier this year, large cities may face financial penalties to cut law enforcement funding and, in some cases, must first obtain the voter approval. Under duress, Austin City Council restored police funding for the 2021-2022 fiscal year and added an additional $ 8.6 million to the police budget. But he didn’t allocate money for the new patrol boats, Kelly said.
The Austin Police Department had 1,798 sworn officers as of January 1, 2020. As of January 1, 2020, there were 1,514 officers currently able to work, with 200 vacancies and 96 additional officers on long-term medical or military leave, or on restricted duty, Ms. Kelly said, citing figures she received from the Austin Police Association.
City data shows Austin’s population grew by more than 38,000 between 2019 and 2021. Fewer police officers are now being asked to do more for a larger population. Meanwhile, the violence has increased. As of September 14, Austin had recorded 61 homicides this year, up from 44 in 2020 and 33 in 2019, according to city data.
It is easy to finance and demoralize a police service, but more difficult to rebuild one. The Austin Police Department has faced some public anger for announcing the limitations of emergency response, but it deserves credit for being honest with the public about the consequences of progressive policy. Those who don’t like it can respond next month when they vote on Proposition A, which would require two agents per 1,000 Austin residents.
Newspaper Editorial Report: How Much Should You Believe in This Story? Images: AFP / Getty Images Composite: Mark Kelly
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