AUSTIN, TX – The Austin Police Department is in the midst of a transition after the retirement of Chief Joseph Chacon. Chacon's former Chief of Staff, Robin Henderson, has been named interim chief by the interim city manager, Jesus Garza.
Henderson is taking the helm trying to manage massive staffing shortages, low morale and progressive leadership in both Austin and Travis County that is striving to dismantle the APD.
The Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) has issued a statement speaking out against the politicians that they feel are making everyone in both municipalities less safe through their defund/abolish efforts.
TMPA issued a statement demanding leadership across Travis County to make resident safety a priority over “woke agendas and experimental politics.”
“The recent announcement of George Soros backed District Attorney Hoe Garza’s reelection bid should be an alarm for the silent majority of reasonable Texans," the statement read.
"Garza has shown a reckless bias against law enforcement officials who perform their duties to maintain law and order. TMPA urges Garza to reconsider his stance towards law enforcement officials as we work collaboratively towards the common goal of protecting public safety. We encourage all citizens to exercise their rights to vote and to choose leaders who prioritize public safety. “
The statement also pointed to the staffing shortage the department is going through, which has them roughly 525 officers shy of being full strength. The 911 call center is also under-staffed, resulting in long hold times.
There currently is no police union contract in place, and the sides agreed to run under the existing agreement as they continue to negotiate. Austin City Council has been negotiating behind closed doors regarding the contract, but did so while inviting a civilian activist group to be part of those private negotiations.
The Austin Justice Coalition, who works under the concept of complete abolishment, has been a major catalyst in the stalled negotiations.
The founder and director of the Coalition, Chas Moore, in a 2019 article he penned in the New York Times entitled To Reform the Police, Target Their Union Contract. The sub-heading read “We did this in Austin and won.”
The TMPA statement also highlighted the risks associated with Garza being reelected.
The Travis County DA indicted 19 members of the APD during the summer of 2020 as Austin was one of the cities that were struggling to deal with the anti-police riots following the death of George Floyd. The officers were charged with aggravated assault.
In closing their statement. TMPA said, "We remain committed to supporting law enforcement officials and ensuring that the citizens of Travis County are protected from a rogue district attorney and activist anti-law enforcement politicians.
We call on all reasonable Texans in Travis County to stand with us in prioritizing public safety over politics and holding our elected officials accountable."
Henderson is taking the helm trying to manage massive staffing shortages, low morale and progressive leadership in both Austin and Travis County that is striving to dismantle the APD.
The Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) has issued a statement speaking out against the politicians that they feel are making everyone in both municipalities less safe through their defund/abolish efforts.
TMPA issued a statement demanding leadership across Travis County to make resident safety a priority over “woke agendas and experimental politics.”
“The recent announcement of George Soros backed District Attorney Hoe Garza’s reelection bid should be an alarm for the silent majority of reasonable Texans," the statement read.
"Garza has shown a reckless bias against law enforcement officials who perform their duties to maintain law and order. TMPA urges Garza to reconsider his stance towards law enforcement officials as we work collaboratively towards the common goal of protecting public safety. We encourage all citizens to exercise their rights to vote and to choose leaders who prioritize public safety. “
The statement also pointed to the staffing shortage the department is going through, which has them roughly 525 officers shy of being full strength. The 911 call center is also under-staffed, resulting in long hold times.
There currently is no police union contract in place, and the sides agreed to run under the existing agreement as they continue to negotiate. Austin City Council has been negotiating behind closed doors regarding the contract, but did so while inviting a civilian activist group to be part of those private negotiations.
The Austin Justice Coalition, who works under the concept of complete abolishment, has been a major catalyst in the stalled negotiations.
The founder and director of the Coalition, Chas Moore, in a 2019 article he penned in the New York Times entitled To Reform the Police, Target Their Union Contract. The sub-heading read “We did this in Austin and won.”
The TMPA statement also highlighted the risks associated with Garza being reelected.
The Travis County DA indicted 19 members of the APD during the summer of 2020 as Austin was one of the cities that were struggling to deal with the anti-police riots following the death of George Floyd. The officers were charged with aggravated assault.
In closing their statement. TMPA said, "We remain committed to supporting law enforcement officials and ensuring that the citizens of Travis County are protected from a rogue district attorney and activist anti-law enforcement politicians.
We call on all reasonable Texans in Travis County to stand with us in prioritizing public safety over politics and holding our elected officials accountable."
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