Austin’s police chief has stepped down after an extended dispute with the city council over public safety policies.
In a statement, Austin Police Department Chief Joseph Chacon announced, “This is one of the hardest messages that I’ve ever had to write.”
“After long conversations with my wife and family, and thoughtful prayer, I have now made the decision that the moment is right to hang it up on a 25-year career with APD,” he continued. “Working at APD with you, the sworn and civilian men and women of this amazing department, has been the privilege of my life.”
“Please hold your heads up, keep fighting the good fight, and honor the profession by keeping the citizens of this city safe,” Chacon added.
Robin Henderson, APD chief of staff, was named the interim chief of police, while Chacon said he “will take on an advisory role for a short time to ensure a smooth transition, before finalizing [his] retirement and leaving the department.”
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson remarked, “Chief Chacon led the Austin Police Department with integrity and a deep commitment to the people of the department as well as our community,” despite disagreements between the two.
“I appreciate his work to cultivate mutual respect and trust during a challenging time in which we’re all trying to find the right balance in policing,” he claimed. “We wish him a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement, and we are immensely grateful for his years of service.”
Likely among the challenges Watson referenced was the city’s decision to end its public safety partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) over claims that a DPS trooper had aimed a handgun at a fleeing child during a traffic stop.
As reported by The Dallas Express, video evidence appeared to disprove such claims, but the city refused to renew the partnership intended to supplement the city’s lack of police officers. Since then, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered DPS troopers to continue patrolling the capitol.
Other groups, however, condemned City Hall for adopting anti-police policies that have reduced the number of law enforcement officers available and lowered morale within the department.
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas reacted to the news, saying, “It is no surprise to our organization that Chief Chacon is leaving the city and entertaining other options.”
“A 25 year public servant for the city of Austin and a well-respected officer who rose through the ranks of the department stands no chance against an anti-police council and rogue district attorney who has had him in his crosshairs from day one on the job,” the group continued.
Similarly, the non-partisan PAC Save Austin Now said that it wished “to thank APD Chief Joe Chacon for his decades of service to our community and his commitment to improving public safety.”
“The city now embarks on a national search for a new police chief and residents cannot afford for this effort to fail,” the advocacy organization added. “This search will occur at a low point for public safety in our city.”
“Amid rising crime, inadequate 911 response times and the most profound police staffing crisis in our city’s history, we must select a new police chief that can dramatically improve recruiting and retention and secure a new labor contract with the city.”
“Austin has 400 fewer police officers today than we did three years ago,” it claimed. “City leaders say they are pro police, but their actions clearly deny that.”
“Until City Hall rejects the poison of police abolitionists and their allied activists and ensures we have a strong, adequately staffed police department, public safety will continue to deteriorate,” the group concluded.
Austin is not the only city in the state struggling with issues of public safety and sufficient staffing in its police department.
The Dallas Police Department currently faces a shortage of roughly 900 police officers. A City analysis previously recommended about three officers for every 1,000 residents, which means Dallas should have a police force of approximately 4,000 officers. The department, however, currently employs about 3,100 officers.
Like Austin, Dallas also previously partnered with DPS to tackle the skyrocketing number of murders in 2019. By July of that year, the murder rate had dropped by 29%.
