Following the impact of the Austin City Council’s decision to defund the police department in 2020, residents of Austin, Texas, are voicing their outrage over staffing shortages and prolonged 9-1-1 call response times.
The consequences of the decision four years ago have been felt keenly by residents, with recent incidents reflecting the dire state of public safety in the city. Most recently, in February, a section of the city was left without a single police officer for several hours on a Saturday due to ongoing staffing shortages.
Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock brought attention to the vacancy and its impact on public safety.
“Previous councils and leadership have actively worked against our officers and department, which has now put us in a free-falling staffing crisis,” Bullock told Fox News.
He also referenced the significant attrition of officers since 2017, causing the department to reassign detectives to patrol duties in order to respond to 9-1-1 calls.
“Each year since 2017, we’ve lost more officers than we’ve hired. We had to gut our specialized units and force detectives to work backfill on patrol just to try and respond to 9-1-1 calls,” Bullock said.
The staffing crisis reached a tipping point last year when 40 officers filed retirement papers following a city council vote to scrap a four-year contract.
“Our staffing has been set back at least 15 years and at the same time we’ve dealt with a population growth of over 250,000 new residents. Combine that with a district attorney who has made it very clear that targeting officers and releasing criminals is his priority — not public safety,” Bullock said.
Despite efforts to address the issue, including legislative action to restore funding, the officer shortage persists.
Residents shared harrowing experiences. Lauren Klinefelter recounted how she was left stranded without assistance after a car accident involving her young children due to unanswered 9-1-1 calls. Nick Kantor, whose brother was killed in a gang-related shooting in 2021, blamed the defunding of police for his sibling’s death. Kantor later learned that the department’s anti-gang task force had been shut down due to lack of resources. His family further criticized decision-makers for failing to acknowledge the repercussions of their actions.
“I think it’s pretty clear that their policies epically failed, and ultimately killed my brother along with hundreds of other people. And instead of accepting that they made a mistake and doing their best to make it right, they have chosen [to] ignore the statistics and continue to come up with more ways to dismantle the Austin Police Department,” Kantor added.
National Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Joe Gamaldi also condemned city council members for their role in defunding the department, attributing rising crime rates to their actions. Gamaldi noted that response times are averaging at least 10 minutes while some districts are left unprotected.
“What the Austin city council did was horrific to the community,” he told Fox News. “There is no one left to fill these shortages because the city council treats officers like scum.”
Gamaldi also called attention to the rise in homicides and called for the city to remedy the staffing shortages as quickly as possible.
“2021 was the highest ever for recorded murders and, since then, the murder rate continues to stay close to that high and looks like 2024 will not be any better. People are dying over bad decisions,” he said.
Despite efforts to address the crisis, including recruitment efforts and negotiations for a long-term labor contract, challenges persist.
Bullock stressed the importance of attracting recruits and resolving the stalemate between the Austin Police Association and the City of Austin to address the staffing shortages effectively.
Meanwhile, residents like Klinefelter remain concerned for the future.
“I understand longer response times in certain situations, but no response at all is scary! Especially when your babies are the ones you are seeking help for. I hope that our city can become safe again and that the police department can fill the empty spots, because if not, God help us all.”
City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who was elected after the decision to defund the police department, acknowledged the gradual nature of rebuilding the police force in a statement.
“The morale of our department is crucial, and as city leaders, it is imperative that we prioritize providing the necessary resources to support recruitment and retention efforts,” Kelly said. “With 79 cadets currently in the police academy, we are taking steps towards strengthening our police department for the future.”
In response to inquiries, a city spokesperson acknowledged the pressing concerns facing the Austin Police Department, claiming that efforts are being made to address staffing and training issues. The spokesperson also affirmed the city’s commitment to providing additional resources and support for the department.
“The need for additional resources for APD remains a top priority and the Interim City Manager will be assessing what options are available to the city,” the spokesperson said. “The Austin City Council has provided additional support to APD by authorizing significant investments for staffing and specifically retention bonuses as well as approving additional resources related to cadet classes.”
