AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Following a roundtable discussion with law enforcement officials from across the state Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott again took aim at the City of Austin and efforts to reallocate funds from the Austin Police Department.
"When you consider the magnitude of what our law enforcement officers do to maintain safety in our communities," Abbott said, "candidly, it is shocking that some cities are turning their backs on our law enforcement officers. Cities across the country like Minneapolis, like Portland, like Seattle, and unfortunately, even like the City of Austin here in the state of Texas are doing things like defunding law enforcement agencies."
In August 2020, the Austin City Council voted to reallocate approximately $150 million away from APD - immediately cutting some $20 million, and identifying another $130 million in services and programs that will eventually be shifted outside of the department. The cuts included eliminating 150 vacant officer positions, and canceling police cadet classes.
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"Here in Texas, we will never turn our back on our law enforcement officers," Abbott said. "Texas is a law and order state, and we are going to ensure that we keep it that way. Defunding the police is reckless. It endangers the lives of people in communities across the entire state. We cannot, and we will not, allow cities like Austin to defund the police."
Abbott said cities that defund their police make it physically impossible for residents to live safely - and the state needs to make it "fiscally impossible" for cities to do so.
"This session, Texas must pass laws that give cities a clear choice - either fulfill their duty to keep their residents safe, or lose access to all of their tax revenue," Abbott said.