Austin's police department has faced significant challenges in staffing, with a shortage of approximately 350 patrol positions, leading to increased overtime costs and stress on officers.
Despite the downturn in violent crime, specific areas of Austin have become hotspots, leading to a public perception that the city is less safe, impacting community relations.
Relations between the City Hall, APD, and the District Attorney's Office have become strained, particularly regarding the prosecution of police misconduct under DA José Garza's leadership.
Austin’s 911 response times have improved dramatically, with the operator vacancy rate dropping from 70% to 7%, yet challenges in timely response still persist.
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