With the exception of college, and a few years after, I have lived in or near Austin all my life. For the last 15 years the trend with their ****ty government has been towards the far-out leftist Seattle policies, and they could care less, as a council about safety of citizens, infrastructure spending, lack of police force, etc. Whatever the latest stupidity coming out of Washington state is, they are whole hog for it. If they were ever de-regulated, they would go out of business quick for their horrid utility rates shoving green energy down everyone's throat.

I hate to see such a wonderful city go to hell, but personally, the taxpayers that don't vote, deserve it. I do not go into the Austin city limits now, without a weapon. It would be foolish to do so. Since I am a law abiding citizen, I have no complaints about traffic stops or police enforcing the laws on the books. I believe APD has been understaffed for years.

If you want open drug use, camping/****ting/lunacy under every overpass, then Austin is for you. If you want to bash the police, because *gasp*, they actually enforce laws??????? Then you deserve everything you get. Just because you don't like a law, doesn't mean it is not a law. Police don't make laws and they shouldn't selectively enforce laws. There's a reason that a much larger body makes those laws and majority votes are needed there. Austin city council is a great example of why a statewide body makes our laws concerning crime. That way common sense cannot be railroaded by a few vicious morons with nothing better to do.

Just wondering...does anyone think the council votes the way it does, especially these days, because they don't want to be that one or two on the council that votes against some of this crazy stuff because they're afraid of these lunatics? Showing up in large groups in front of their house, spray painting their car, berating them at a restaurant, etc (I mean , this happens to the Democratic Mayor in Portland and he's on their side!)

Maybe they just want to take the easy way out, and they don't really believe in what they are voting for. Well, maybe a couple.

Keeper of The Spirits said:

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I appreciate your response and certainly your service and do think our officers need resources and believe we need to consider how we allocate resources. Better training, better salaries and better technology for our officers is a must.

Thanks for the color on number of officers that does change my point of view based on the external studies. If there are links to those I'd love to read them. By way of background my practice focuses on the intersection of law, technology, privacy and enforcement. I focus on primarily white collar crime professionally but philanthropically support many of the innocents projects. We know that we can reduce crime by preventing the elements that cause crime, in the fraud space that's opportunity, rationalization and incentive pressure.

While I am pretty conservative, I am very liberal on the issues of substance abuse, because of my families personal experience with substance abuse and the legal system. From my perspective neither drinking and driving nor drugs should be illegal. Drinking and crashing sure, and robbery to get drugs sure. The war on drugs is war on the poor.

Non police traffics enforcement is an interesting idea in theory, make traffic enforcement only about traffic. No longer allow warrantless vehicle search, search for pending for pending warrants or actual arrest. Again I support a reduction in traffic enforcement and laws all together.

While no one likes to be called ignorant, I would like to know more about the weaponry and armor most officers have access and the correlation to escalation vs de-escalation. I also appreciate the anecdotal evidence and the service of those involved but we should base our decision making on city wide data not specific situations.


Finally, I totally get your frustration, I can't imagine why anyone would want to be a police officer right now, even before his tide it was the hardest job for the least pay and now I can only imagine it's a nightmare. Thank you for being a good force for change and engaging in intelligent conversations and sharing your point of view .

My position based on your response is execute the recommendations of the third party study, continue to reimagine and decide what is the police's responsibilities and what are not. Move the forensic labs out of the police department for sure

Inform yourself through first hand sources like OP and actual data based studies not just the headline on Fox, CNN or Facebook.

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Hard to believe someone this naive actually graduated from college.

The Austin City Council is the largest collection of imbeciles and fools to ever run a major city.

Keep in mind the same council now declaring that we spend too much on APD also said that we have to pay more in the previous years because cost of living is higher and our police/fire shouldn't have to live out in Buda or Hutto to afford a home.


Just saying these weasels change the narrative to fit whatever new trend is going on this year.

Aust Ag said:

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Just wondering...does anyone think the council votes the way it does, especially these days, because they don't want to be that one or two on the council that votes against some of this crazy stuff because they're afraid of these lunatics? Showing up in large groups in front of their house, spray painting their car, berating them at a restaurant, etc (I mean , this happens to the Democratic Mayor in Portland and he's on their side!)

Maybe they just want to take the easy way out, and they don't really believe in what they are voting for. Well, maybe a couple.

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Absolutely they all vote in lockstep. The white council members are afraid of being racist if they don't get in line.

https://www.kvue.com/mobile/article/news/local/austin-police-budget-cuts-apd-mayor-adler-update/269-ab204834-6218-4600-81f2-77bce9d6aa7a

Adler is great at speaking out of both sides of his mouth. I find it interesting that this is now a "draft" proposal. It seems the council is feeling backlash from their moronic decisions that are in direct conflict with increasing public safety.

95 officers have been officially notified that they are being removed from their specialized unit and being sent to patrol. Id bet that doesn't feel like a draft proposal to those who are affected by it and won't feel like a draft proposal to the citizens that will suffer from it.

Keep contacting the council and ensure your voice is heard.

If you're on twitter, follow this account for highlights of up to date crime stats within the city.

https://twitter.com/APACrimeNet?s=01

This city council's actions are already causing staffing impacts. I just heard this morning of 3 more people that have between 4-8 years that are quitting to work for private sector. All of them are going back to their old line of work for more money and to deal with less BS. They've understandably lost the passion to be in law enforcement while being crapped on by this city council.

op_06 said:

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This city council's actions are already causing staffing impacts. I just heard this morning of 3 more people that have between 4-8 years that are quitting to work for private sector. All of them are going back to their old line of work for more money and to deal with less BS. They've understandably lost the passion to be in law enforcement while being crapped on by this city council.

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With all the riot lunacy and these city council.idiots being on the side of the rioters, I wouldn't blame the whole of APD for giving the city the bird and walking out. They have a lot more patience than me when dealing with the stupidest of stupid who happen to have been elected.

op_06 said:

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Keeper of The Spirits said:

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I don't see any issue with moving the 95 officers. DWI enforcement and parks can be covered by regular beats and boogeyman of gangs isn't nearly as bad as you'd think. I sat on a grand jury for 6 months and after that realized our crime in Austin doesn't justify a huge force.

I don't think we need to completely dissolve the police but you need to ask yourself a few questions?

Does Austin need 2200 police, 800 support staff and a half a billion dollar budget? Our violent crime rate is approximately half that of the other major Texas cities and even less when you include the metros. Many cities with Austin's population, demographics and crime rates get by with less officers per capital. We also have a lot of other police adjacent agencies FBI, Rangers, and troopers all operating more in Austin because of the capital.

Does our police force need military like weaponry?

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I am a current Austin police officer. When I logged off this morning to leave work, officers working in the southeast area of the city just finished actively fighting a known, documented gang member over possession of a pistol. They successfully took him into custody without serious injury and he's currently under arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm among other things. I was not on scene and don't know any more of the details.

Around midnight last night in the area of Manor and Ed Bluestein, officers were able to arrive on scene shortly after a drive-by shooting that left one victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Officer's were able to apply multiple tourniquets prior to EMS arrival. I'm not sure the victim's status.

I can personally assure you that "the boogeyman of gangs" is much worse than you'd think. I was the first on scene when my co-worker was nearly shot in the head by your supposed "boogeyman". Our crime scene personnel (forensics folks that don't belong under APD per your statement) were able to swab gunshot residue from my co-workers face due to how close the gun was when it was discharged.

Thank you for your service on a grand jury. Don't kid yourself that your work as a juror had any correlation with the level of crime that occurs on a daily basis in this city.

You were exposed to cases that the district attorney either decided to pursue, or was required to present before a grand jury. It is disgusting the sheer volume of felony charges that are reduced to misdemeanors or outright dismissed by that political office.

The parks unit is comprised of 31 officers who have access to ATVs, fat-tired mountain bicycles, motorcycles designed for trail use, and other specialized equipment.

Their sole focus is to respond to and patrol the hundreds of miles of city jogging trails, green belt, and parks. When the camping ban was lifted, the parks unit was one of the few units who was mandated to have 100% staffing, due to the violent attacks and sexual assaults that occurred deep within the city's trail systems. To remove an officer that has intimate knowledge of the city green belt and replace him with a regular patrol officer is foolish. But this city council has tasked the Chief with squeezing blood from a turnip.

The DWI unit is comprised of 20 specially trained officers who are all required to attain a DRE (drug recognition expert) certification to remain active on the unit. DRE cert involves identifying any substances, other than alcohol, that a driver may be impaired on through a series of evaluations that occur at the jail once a subject has been placed under arrest.

The Austin Police DWI unit conducted over 300 DRE exams last year. DPS (statewide numbers) had the 2nd most DRE exams. To say Austin has a drinking and driving and a drugged driving problem is an understatement.

The DWI unit additionally made ~40% of the department's total DWI arrests last year. They proactively seek out impaired drivers while also responding to patrol requests for assist. If a patrol officer responds to a crash, or makes a traffic stop, and believes the driver is impaired, a DWI Officer will take responsibility for that investigation and allow for that patrol officer to resume taking 911 calls.

DWI officers additionally investigate all high-profile DWI cases (ie Cedric Benson/Former DA Rosemary Lehmburg) as well as investigate all intoxication manslaughter cases. I'm not sure about you, but I would appreciate an experienced officer doing the investigation if a loved one was ever killed by an impaired driver.

The department has never had an authorized strength of 2,200 officers. FBI recommendations are 2 officers/1,000 residents and Austin currently sits well below that number.

This current council has spent tax dollars on two separate staffing studies to determine whether the department needs additional officers. Both external studies came back and determined that the city needed to increase police staffing.

The most recent authorized strength was 1,959 sworn FTEs. The city council took away 150 vacant positions which reduced the staffing to 1,809 authorized strength. 1,809 is authorized strength, not actual boots on the ground. We still have vacancies and I believe we have around 1,600-1,700 sworn officers. The city councils decision to delay police academies will have a detrimental impact on filling vacancies. Initial application to being a productive officer can be ~2 yrs.

Your last concern about "military like weaponry" is simply ignorant. I'm not going to waste any more time unpacking that.

I'm exhausted from my shift and have stayed up way too late to respond to your post. I hope my reply provided some helpful feedback.

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Older post but more relevant than ever. It takes a brave soul doing this work in a time and place that doesn't appreciate all you guys and gals do. Know many of us are appreciative despite all that you guys must hear in the media and on the streets. Be safe out there.

Keeper of The Spirits said:

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He is referring to the if you can't do anything else in life you can join the military, police or teaching force. Basically you are short and have less potential which is not fair.

Agree with Op on license suspension, if get a DWI it should go directly to breathalyzer on your vehicle and
You pay for at a reasonable rate per month.

Also I would avoid branding someone a socialist as it divides people into teams, me vs you, us vs them which is counter productive, I believe most people on both sides of the aisle want a better America but have different ways on how to do it.

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No. People on the socialist side do not want a better America. That want power. Pretty naive viewpoint.

Playing devils advocate here, but you are saying "non-socialist" don't want power? Of course they do. It's how you maintain status quo or get votes for new policies.

I'd argue that is even more naive.

evan_aggie said:

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Playing devils advocate here, but you are saying "non-socialist" don't want power? Of course they do. It's how you maintain status quo or get votes for new policies.

I'd argue that is even more naive.

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All politicians want power. That was not event the point I responded to but are you saying a socialistic state desires less control than a Republic? Might want to crack a book.

Sorry, I don't check the Austin board very often. I appreciate the follow-up questions and engagement.

Mayor Adler and rest of city council continue to destroy this city. I don't judge a city's crime rate on whether I'll get robbed or shot by engaging in nefarious activities (think drug deals/drive-by shootings).

I judge the crime levels based on whether it will affect my family minding their own walking down the sidewalk downtown. Or sitting at a bus stop. Or running on a jogging trail. Or driving down the highway. Violent crime is through the roof. Traffic deaths are up. Murders are up. Robberies are up.

I saw some stats earlier today that I have a higher likelihood of getting murdered in Austin than dying from Covid-19 based on my demographics.

There's currently a pretty decent spree of robberies that have been occurring this last week. A student was robbed at gun point while walking near West campus. And another set were victims of a home invasion and pistol whipped. Several gas station robberies also. One clerk was shot in the stomach.

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/armed-robbery-home-invasion-reported-in-west-campus-thursday-morning

Current DA is soft on crime and incoming DA, Jose Garza, won't be any better. He is Soros' funded and wants the jails emptied.

I've heard that the department has blown through FY21 overtime budget (a drop in the bucket compared to FY20) the first week of October.

Several shifts have 3-5 guys routinely show up to work due to limited manpower/vacation/sick. Prior to budget cuts, supervisors could hire a person to work on their day off for a full 10 hr OT shift to supplement staffing to get to 80% staffing on a shift. If a shift is assigned 10 people and 6 show up, then supervisor could hire 2 people to work.

Under new budget OT restrictions, supervisors have to limit OT and can only hire a person to work 5 hrs out of a 10 hr shift. I hope my family doesn't need police services during the other half of the shift that is understaffed.

I read where CM Alison Alter/District 10 recently doubled down on the budget and staffing cuts. She said that "they've tried increased staffing" and it didn't work so they want to try something different.

It's disingenuous to say they've "tried" increased staffing when the council canceled the two remaining cadet classes in 2020 and canceled all of 2021 cadet classes. Concurrently, the council stripped 150 positions (vacancies) from the department.

So there was an increase in "authorized" staffing but we're at ~2012 staffing levels from what I understand. Increased staffing can't work when the council cancels cadet classes which prevents the department from hiring and training officers. The lack of cadet classes combined with record levels of retirements/attrition will take years to recover from.

If anyone Twitters, please follow this account and share anything of interest. The guys that run it are trying to share information about the daily crime that occurs.

Not everything gets posted, but it's just a glimpse to the type and volume of crime that occurs. The local media does an awful job of reporting on it.

https://twitter.com/apacrimenet?s=11

op_06 said:

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November will definitely provide a better outlook on what the future holds. I think Alter and Flannigan both have a shot at getting ousted. Unfortunately I think the true cancer, Casar, is here to stay for another term.

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Definitely voting Flanigan out since he went along with the crowd to defund the police.

I can't wait to not vote for flannigan. Condescending piece of s***

Thanks to those who have followed the new crime net account. Local media have started to follow the account as well so several outlets won't have any excuses for not reporting on the daily crime. I've also started to see more frequent news stories about low staffing and awful response times.

https://twitter.com/apacrimenet?s=11

Another deadly weekend in Austin. Last night an intoxicated driver caused a 4-6 vehicle crash (interstate looked like a bomb went off due to vehicle debris everywhere) and one driver involved died.

While guys were working that intoxication manslaughter case, another drunk driver ran a red light at the closest intersection to the crash and seriously injured a toddler.

Meanwhile, this council is slashing authorized positions and canceling cadet classes. Trickle down effect is DWI unit is being cut in half and being sent back to patrol due to low staffing. The unit made ~40% of dept. DWI arrests in 2019.

This town has a drinking problem among others. Can't wait for the bars to "reopen" and that unit to be cut in half. Don't drive in Austin after dark!

EDIT:

I was just told that there was a shooting in North Austin earlier. DETECTIVES, guys that work in the office in plain clothes, arrived on scene before it was safely secured and locked down, due to low staffing. Not enough patrol officers available to safely secure the scene. Unreal.

Call in the social workers!

I guess you didn't read the entire thread where we had an adult conversation where we found middle ground despite our differing positions without resorting to name calling that resulted in the idiot contacting his city council member advocating for the middle ground.