Following a recent local law enforcement roundtable discussion in Austin, Texas, a Republican group of representatives shared their takeaways from the meeting, focusing on an increase in violent crimes and officer effectiveness.
Since Austin cut its police budget by $150 million last year, the city has seen a 96 percent increase in homicides and a dramatic spike in officer attrition.
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, August Pfluger (R-TX), Chip Roy (R-TX), and Roger Williams (R-TX) were in attendance of the meeting.
Highlights of the discussion showed that the city is down approximately 300 officers, with 15 officers leaving the force every month; several specialized units have been disbanded, and others have not had enough personnel to be effective; state and local collaboration with federal task forces has been severely handicapped; and budget cuts have made it difficult for the Austin Police Department to stop human and drug trafficking stemming from the southwest border.
Katko, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has held police roundtables in New York City and Portland, Oregon, in addition to Austin, officials said, as a means of identifying law enforcement challenges.
The lawmakers and discussion participants said one year after enacting the law enforcement budget cuts, Austin is proposing a larger police budget, but they acknowledged proposal details remain to be seen.