Austin Police urge residents to dial the non-emergency number if they experience a robbery at a bank or ATM.
Austin Police Department Asks Robbery Victims Not to Call 911 Amid Staffing Shortage
The Austin, Texas, Police Department has made a unique request to its residents. In light of the city’s growing crime rates and staffing shortages, they are asking victims of robberies at banks or ATMs to refrain from calling 911. Instead, they are urging them to dial 311, a non-emergency number.
The department recently posted a graphic on social media, urging Austin residents to “call 311 or make an online report” if they find themselves victims of a robbery while returning from a bank or ATM. The city has experienced a significant increase in auto thefts, murders, and aggravated assaults since 2020, making it challenging for the police department to hire enough officers to ensure public safety.
The Austin Police Department emphasizes that even if individuals are cautious and follow safety advice, they may still fall victim to a robbery. In such cases, they encourage victims to make a police report and provide as much information as possible to aid in the recovery of stolen property.
Even if you are cautious & follow all the safety advice, you may still become the unfortunate victim of a robbery. Do you know what your next steps should be?
Make a police report & provide as much information as possible so we can recover your property quickly and safely. pic.twitter.com/79Cv0RI099— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) September 1, 2023
Staffing Shortages and Controversy
The city’s police chief, Joseph Chacon, recently resigned after two years in the position, stating that it was the “right time” to retire. Chacon’s departure came amidst criticism from the police union and some Austin residents, who blamed city leaders for the “miserable conditions” officers face and for defunding the department following the George Floyd riots in 2020.
In response to the “defund the police” movement, Austin’s city council reduced the police budget by $150 million. This budget cut has resulted in a shortage of officers, with the Austin Police Association stating that the department currently has around 1,475 officers, far below the 2,000 needed to adequately protect the city.
The decision to cut police funding has also sparked outrage from individuals directly affected by the rise in crime. Julia Kantor, the mother of a man killed in a mass shooting in Austin, expressed her frustration in an email to the council, calling them ”cowards” for supporting the police cut just days before her son’s alleged murderer went on trial.
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Similar measures have been implemented in other Texas cities facing staffing shortages. Dallas, for example, now requires residents to fill out certain police reports online instead of calling 911, allowing officers to prioritize more serious crimes.
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