The Greater Austin Crime Commission applauds Austin City Council for approving new 30 police spots in the 2020 Budget.
But, the GACC’s Cary Roberts explained, even with those additions the department continues, and will continue to lag behind in terms on community engagement. Roberts added, the national average for community engagement says it should make for 35-50{211d4eaff5f6ab776b9f468c919065fc3aae4df093916ddbc4a838f2fb9137eb} of an officer’s time, “Austin’s community engagement time is around 23-34{211d4eaff5f6ab776b9f468c919065fc3aae4df093916ddbc4a838f2fb9137eb}… its projected to fall a percentage point even, this year.”To boost that average, Roberts said it would take hundreds of new cops, but noted, that might not be realistic given the city’s budget, time to recruit police cadets and train them.
Roberts said the department’s community engagement time has been slipping in recently, but still calls the council’s move to add those police spots significant. The additions are part of 4-year staffing plan that will see APD 120 officers stronger by 2022, if all moves ahead as is. But Roberts added, that might not be enough since the MATRIX staffing report believes the department needs to bring on 168 cops.
(Photo:Shutterstock/Kokoulina)
