Texas Department of Public Safety law enforcement officers are continuing their work in the state’s capitol after Austin politicians backed out of a public safety partnership.
As reported by The Dallas Express, the City of Austin backed out of an agreement between DPS and the City after state troopers were accused of pointing a weapon at a young child. Body camera footage later revealed the allegations were false, but Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and interim City Manager Jesus Garza had already pulled the plug.
“This partnership was an innovative approach to address acute staffing shortages that were years in the making,” the mayor said. “However, any approach must be in sync with Austin values.”
Despite the Austin city government’s termination of the partnership, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered DPS to continue patrolling the streets of Austin.
“I directed Texas DPS to continue patrolling Austin after the city ended the successful DPS-APD partnership program,” Gov. Abbott explained.
“DPS Troopers have arrested over 1,100 criminals and seized over 60lbs of illegal drugs,” he added. “Public safety is #1 in Texas.”
Since then, Abbott has sent more than 100 state troopers to the city, aiding the understaffed Austin Police Department in law enforcement efforts. The additional help has been used to increase police presence in Austin’s downtown area and bar scene.
DPS Regional Director Vincent Luciano explained the decision to focus resources there arose from “looking at historical data,” per KXAN.
“Typically late night was one of the big issues, we have more troopers that are downtown late night when [there’s] a lot of crime,” he continued.
Public safety advocates applauded the decision to keep DPS in Austin, with the Austin Police Association thanking the troopers for “remaining committed to the city of Austin despite our city government’s failure to recognize the important work you’re doing.”
However, anti-police activists lamented the continued presence of state law enforcement in the Texas capital.
Texas Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) called DPS’s insistence on remaining in the capital city “deeply concerning.”
“Our communities are put in jeopardy when law enforcement is working against our community instead of in collaboration with,” she added.
Abbott has emphasized his commitment to law and order recently, highlighting a slate of public safety laws he signed that “rein in rogue DAs, keep violent offenders behind bars, boost funding for rural law enforcement, and more,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
Austin is not the only city struggling with issues of public safety and sufficient staffing in its police department.
The Dallas Police Department is currently facing a shortage of roughly 900 police officers. A City analysis previously recommended about three officers for every 1,000 residents, putting the target staffing level for Dallas at approximately 4,000.
However, the department currently employs about 3,100 officers.
Dallas also previously partnered with Texas DPS to tackle the skyrocketing number of murders in 2019. By July of that year, the murder rate had dropped by 29%.
However, community activists denounced the work being done by DPS and DPD, echoing Rep. Hinojosa’s allegation that the partnership resulted in the over-policing of minority communities.
Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who has underscored public safety as a priority, issued a standing job offer to any Austin PD officers dissatisfied with the support they receive from their city, as reported by The Dallas Express.