Cops quit woke Austin in droves, plunging Texas city into crisis: ‘If you’re conservative, it’s a hostile place’

By MaryAnn Martinez
March 3, 2023 2:23pm Updated
More On: texas

Texas’ woke capital, Austin, is in the midst of a policing crisis with over 300 vacancies and cops quitting because they feel disrespected, multiple sources tell The Post.

“We’re right there with Portland and Seattle and San Francisco as being one of those places where if you’re at all conservative or in law enforcement, it’s become a hostile place,” Lt. Brian Moon, who retired last month, told The Post of the city he protected for 23 years.

Another 77 officers are expected to retire before the end of March — on top of 264 existing vacancies, according to the Austin Police Association.

Austin Police Department’s staffing is so bad, 911 calls are being redirected to the 311 non-emergency number because there aren’t enough cops to solve crimes.

“If you come home and find your home burglarized, calls like that are now going to 311,” said police union president Thomas Villarreal. “You’re not getting a police response to many property crimes if it’s not a violent crime that is currently ongoing.”

The beleaguered department has also pulled detectives from solving cases to act as patrol officers, Berry said.

Moody, a former watch commander, started working for the Austin Police Department in 1999 and says things have dramatically changed. In 2021, the city recorded a record 88 homicides and although that number decreased in 2022, the first six months of the year saw dramatic increases in the number of rapes, with 179, and almost 2,000 aggravated assaults, according to local news site KAXN.

“You could see that the city’s attitude towards its police department had started to shift and, personally speaking, I didn’t feel that the city was really appreciating us the way they used to,” Moon told The Post Thursday.

Sources told The Post cops are quitting because they feel disrespected.

An additional 77 officers are expected to retire before the end of March, according to the Austin Police Association.

“Austin had always been a pretty liberal-leaning city, but it was pro-law enforcement at the same time. They expected us to do things the right way, obviously, but they weren’t hyper-critical like they became.”

In 2020, the city council voted to defund cops by $150 million, slashing their budget by a third in the months after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of the police, which sparked protests and clashes with the cops in Austin.

Elected officials also nixed three cadet classes and cut 150 officers from the budget.
Retired Austin Police Lt. Brian Moon

Last year, the local district attorney announced the indictment of 19 police officers accused of using excessive force against protesters in the 2020 protests.

“It almost felt like there was a target — like the District Attorney’s Office and the city was looking for an opportunity to do something to you, to prosecute you or fire you, no matter if you did it right or did it wrong,” Moon stated.

In 2021, Austin chose to refund the cops, after it was told it would face losing its ability to raise taxes or annex land under a state law that was enacted to deter cities from taking money away from law enforcement.

see also
Indicted Austin cop Justin Berry makes GOP runoff for Texas House seat

Austin should have about 2,000 police officers for a city its size, but instead is only authorized to have 1,825 — although its current staffing levels are far below that, the police union claimed.

“Who wants to work for someone that belittles you and demonizes you,” Justin Berry, a current officer who was among those indicted in 2022, told The Post.

Potentially piling on the progressive policies, city voters will get to decide if they want to create a police accountability office later this year.

Mayor Kirk Watson has admitted the city has “unacceptably long waits” for police in a previous statement to The Post. Watson did not respond to a request for comment on upcoming cop retirements.

The Austin PD told The Post it didn’t want to speculate on the number of officers who are about to retire, but said in a statement: “Our officers work hard every day to provide a safer environment with the resources we have at hand.

“We will continue strategizing about providing safety to the community and with other tasks ranging from patrol to investigations.”
A picture of an austin police cruiser.
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has admitted the city has “unacceptably long waits” for police in a previous statement to The Post.
KXAN

At times, entire areas of the city are left unpatrolled while the few officers who are working respond to a large incident.

“A homicide comes out or a shooting comes out, that’s going to tie up every officer available,” Berry explained.

A recent night of chaos caused by street racers set an example for what residents can expect, according to Moon. The drivers shut down intersections, driving dangerously and even setting people on fire.

Vandals attacked a police cruiser, breaking windows and injuring one officer. The first officer to respond waited over 22 minutes for backup because no one were available.

“We’ve pretty much conceded that we’re not going to show up anymore on certain calls,” Moody charged. “Eventually it’s going to get to the point where it’s so bad, everyone’s going to realize that something has to be done.”

https://nypost.com/2023/03/03/...B_NkHkLsCMAtU2A0g-ME

Everybody should stay away from Austin because all the cops are quitting.

Ann, you are a fucking idiot. I'm sorry, but you are.

Have you ever been to Austin?

Stupid response that didn’t address ANY of the issues raised. Nice ad hominem attack but what about the facts and figures? Even the mayor admits there’s a problem….

I know it's a bumper sticker response, but it rings true.
A society that makes war on it's police had better make friends with it's criminals.

Very sad indeed.

On the other hand, the police should start getting their act together.

Today I see in the news cops killed a man at a traffic stop, because he did not comply with their orders??

Austin is a liberal utopia. It is the warm version of Ithaca, NY. I would rank it among the most liberal cities in the country.

It has always been friendly and as safe as any city however. But…while I have not seen it first hand…it is making the news here lately with some lawless events.

Austin likes the reputation of being weird. “Keep Austin Weird” is a popular bumper sticker there.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Stupid response that didn’t address ANY of the issues raised. Nice ad hominem attack but what about the facts and figures? Even the mayor admits there’s a problem….

All the cops are quitting in Dallas too and they have been ever since I moved here 35 years ago. The pay is shit, the job is high stress and dangerous. This is a problem that is endemic in all cities of any size, not just Austin or other places in Texas. How'se that? Happy?

According to the New York Post.

You would think Ann could find a report from Austin, or possibly Texas, but no, she had to go to New York, and then was ashamed just to post the link. It reads like a negotiating ploy by the union and the city council, nothing more. (Must have been a slow day for news in New York.)

(The Loons could add the word "teachers" and it would be just as relevant for the same reasons Mike mentions.)

My suggestion would be for Ann to never cross the Red River.....too dangerous, and besides we have enough MAGA true-believers here already.

I have no plans to go there. It's clearly inhabited with people like Mitchell and Kenny. No wonder it is a hell hole. Good luck.

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I have no plans to go there. It's clearly inhabited with people like Mitchell and Kenny. No wonder it is a hell hole. Good luck.

I am heartbroken.

Mike knows full well-
KalifornicatedAustinistan-
has been working at defunding the police in relentless fashion.

The results are coming home to roost.

Even my liberal friends that reside there are in dismay as to the extent of the resultant damage this city has experienced.

Kinda: "Every damn thing is your own fault if you are any good."

Right Mike

Austin is the San Francisco of Texas...... Nuff said!

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Mike knows full well-
KalifornicatedAustinistan-
has been working at defunding the police in relentless fashion.

The results are coming home to roost.

Even my liberal friends that reside there are in dismay as to the extent of the resultant damage this city has experienced.

Kinda: "Every damn thing is your own fault if you are any good."

Right Mike

Austin is fine. BTW, when was the last time you were there, if ever?

And forgive me if I'm not surprised that the folks you say you know in Austin agree with your political viewpoint.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Austin is the San Francisco of Texas...... Nuff said!

San Francisco is a great city. Great bars and restaurants. Lots of weirdos and the homeless are a problem.

You ever been there?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Mitchell:

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I have no plans to go there. It's clearly inhabited with people like Mitchell and Kenny. No wonder it is a hell hole. Good luck.

I am heartbroken.

Works for me!

Ann, wants everybody to think like her, be like her. If they’re not, then they are pukes.

quote:

Originally posted by Schrodinger:
Ann, wants everybody to think like her, be like her. If they’re not, then they are pukes.

You mean just like the left pc brigade?

The brainless wokes?

No, not like the left. We understand these knuckle staggers will never get a clue. Hooking up two dots is their limit.

quote:

Originally posted by Schrodinger:
No, not like the left. We understand these knuckle staggers will never get a clue. Hooking up two dots is their limit.

Doug, do you still believe the 'rona was caused by Chinese people eating bats?

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Mitchell:

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Mike knows full well-
KalifornicatedAustinistan-
has been working at defunding the police in relentless fashion.

The results are coming home to roost.

Even my liberal friends that reside there are in dismay as to the extent of the resultant damage this city has experienced.

Kinda: "Every damn thing is your own fault if you are any good."

Right Mike

Austin is fine. BTW, when was the last time you were there, if ever?

And forgive me if I'm not surprised that the folks you say you know in Austin agree with your political viewpoint.

Sure Mike,
as a member of the legal brotherhood,along with Murdaugh,
professional prevaricators,
we should simply beleive you and not the people we know that actually live there and are living through the downfall of the city.

quote:

Originally posted by Schrodinger:
Ann, wants everybody to think like her, be like her. If they’re not, then they are pukes.

Actually,Doug,
we realize you’re much more maliciously dangerous than some merely ignorant”puke” (as you put it)

Wow. the liberal left sure makes personal attacks and shaming just because someone points out a different viewpoint....

are you sure winning hearts and minds is your approach, or is it more like "if you aren't with us, you are the enemy"

You do understand Austin exists in denial of this silliness...

yeah, i've been to austin, this calendar year, and san fran just before the 'rona... I can see the cool and the bad ... and with the cops they have, Austin is safe for young ladies on S. Lamar and S Congress ... keep it up like this, and it'll go back to the 90s

I am actually an actual property OWNER near campus, as my youngest is a freshman - What about YOU? just visiting and wenging?

I think you can stop trying to win the minds of the MAGA faithful when they have voted for Trump twice, and would again if he's the candidate. Their minds aren't worth winning. And you can't really appeal to their sense of shame, as they have none of that either. All that you can do is put their stupidity on full display.....over and over again.

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Mitchell:

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Mike knows full well-
KalifornicatedAustinistan-
has been working at defunding the police in relentless fashion.

The results are coming home to roost.

Even my liberal friends that reside there are in dismay as to the extent of the resultant damage this city has experienced.

Kinda: "Every damn thing is your own fault if you are any good."

Right Mike

Austin is fine. BTW, when was the last time you were there, if ever?

And forgive me if I'm not surprised that the folks you say you know in Austin agree with your political viewpoint.

Sure Mike,
as a member of the legal brotherhood,along with Murdaugh,
professional prevaricators,
we should simply beleive you and not the people we know that actually live there and are living through the downfall of the city.

Sorry, idiot... I don't know Murdaugh or anybody else that doesn't qualify for legal representation. Or, should idiots like you get to decide?

Do you want a mulligan on that response?

Or,are you good with that Fettermanization of a deflection?