To all Austin residents, please read the following message regarding Austin City Council’s vote next week on adding 92 new police officers to the Austin Police Department:
A message from Pam Willeford, president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission:
Next week, the Austin City Council is expected to adopt the FY 2013-2014 budget.
The Greater Austin Crime Commission is urging the city council to support the police department’s FY 2013–2014 budget request for additional sworn positions. The ninety-two new officers in the proposed budget and the police department’s “unmet service demands” include forty-seven to maintain staffing level standards based on population growth and forty-five toward the recent patrol utilization study recommendations.
If you have not already done so, please take the time to communicate with council members and voice your support for additional police manpower. Click here to send an e-mail message to the mayor and council members.
Keeping Austin one of the nation’s safest large cities will require determined leadership and difficult budget decisions. Everyone recognizes that resources are limited and tax revenue is unpredictable. However, the need for additional police officers is evident as the city struggles with the demands of rapid growth, increasing property crime, special events, and the threat of transnational narcotics organizations.
Another important factor in a city that prides itself on civic engagement is the “uncommitted time” available for officers to participate in community-oriented policing activities, such as crime prevention and neighborhood programs. According to the most recent workload analysis, uncommitted patrol time has dropped to 15 percent and is well below the range (30–45) recommended for effective community policing, which builds trust, creates partnerships, and curbs crime.
Thank you for supporting public safety in our community.
Regards,
Pam Willeford
Please take the time to show your support for the Austin Police Department!