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An old Austin, Texas The police officer who quit the force amid the city’s decision to reimburse, the police sent a scathing letter to the department rejecting their offer to rehire him.
“I am personally offended by your offer,” the former officer wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News in response to the city’s offer of $ 5,000 plus additional return-to-work benefits. “I didn’t quit ODA for money. I suspect neither did my peers. No amount of money could have made me come back. The leader’s offer shows how out of touch he is. its officers. What we aspire to is leadership. The one thing that has always been held in mind. “
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The former officer, who identified himself as a military veteran, went on to explain in the letter that leadership failure is the reason for the decision to leave the ministry.
“The working environment within the DPA is one of the most dangerous in the country,” the former officer wrote. “Not because of the dangers every agent faces on the streets, but because of senior leaders who have no formal training in professional development, do not value each agent as a person, dismiss all responsibilities at level of patrol officers and force them to unrealistic expectations. “
The former agent wrote that he sent a proposal to reform the promotion system in the department but was ignored.
The former officer challenged the ministry’s decision to hire Joseph Chacon as the new police chief.
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“The installation of Chief Chacon is the biggest mistake the city of Austin can make during this monumental leadership crisis facing the department,” the letter said. “He was raised in this failed promotion system and fostered a toxic leadership environment throughout his career.”
The letter ends with the former officer saying that he or she cannot in “good conscience” return to the department to serve under Chacon and that the “real victims” are the citizens of Austin.
“God help them,” the letter ends.
Former volunteer firefighter Austin City Council member Mackenzie Kelly told Fox News she believes the $ 5,000 payment offer will create an even bigger rift.
“I understand the intent and the spirit of the police chief’s letter encouraging the recently separated officers to return with a monetary incentive, but the biggest problem here is that the officers who have been loyal to the city have not received a financial incentive to stay, “Kelly, who was one of only two votes against confirming Chacon as the new leader, said. “Unequal pay will create a bigger chasm related to the morale issues that are brewing within the department. It is important to maintain fairness and equity in pay at all levels.”
Austin Police Association president Ken Casaday told Fox News about 30 officers received the department’s letter to return and one officer responded, but none ultimately accepted the offer.
The letter comes after a record ascend officers leaving the force following Austin City Council’s vote to withdraw funding from the police department following the George Floyd riots in the summer of 2020.
In January 2021, PJ Media reported that 20 officers retired from ODA and eight resigned, for a total of 28 departures. In February, five more officers resigned and six retired, for a total of 11 more departures. In March, another 24 officers left and 20 of them retired. Of the other four, three have retired and one was made redundant.
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In November, Austin residents will vote on Proposal A, which seeks to return much of the lost funding to the police department.
“We are in the midst of the deepest police personnel crisis in Austin history,” Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek said in a statement to Fox News. “This is happening during a historic wave of violent crime here, as homicides have increased 80% from last year’s record. Austin police morale is at its lowest. We are about 300 police officers down. in one year due to the Police budget was cut by $ 150 million last year. ADP recently made the astonishing announcement that due to the personnel crisis it can no longer answer calls to 911, unless it is a life-threatening situation or the abuser is on the scene. to endanger their lives without the support they need to do the job. November 2, Austin has to pass Prop A to fix this mess. “
The defense group founded by the liberal billionaire financier Georges soros dumped $ 500,000 into a campaign to reject the proposal.
Proposal A, supported by Save Austin Now, would require at least two Austin police officers per 1,000 population and provide officers with an additional 40 hours of police training each year on topics such as gun control and active fire scenarios.
Jessica Chasmar of Fox News contributed to this report
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