During a recent government meeting, a concerned citizen addressed the ongoing staffing crisis at the Austin Police Department (APD), highlighting a vacancy rate of approximately 19%. The speaker attributed this alarming situation to the decision made in August 2020 to defund the department by reallocating over 30% of its budget, which resulted in the suspension of cadet classes for a year and a loss of 100 potential new officers.

The citizen emphasized that public safety is a fundamental service that must be prioritized, especially as Austin's population has surged by over one million since 2011. Currently, the APD is short more than 350 sworn officers and over 250 patrol officers, a stark contrast to the mere addition of 190 net officers in the same period. The speaker called for a significant effort to rebuild the department to its previous staffing levels, noting that the city had a much smaller population 15 years ago.

In closing, the citizen urged city officials to listen to the majority of law-abiding and tax-paying residents rather than a vocal minority opposed to law enforcement. They advocated for the approval of a proposed budget increase for the APD, stressing the importance of restoring adequate police staffing for the safety and well-being of the community.