My Thoughts on Policing in Austin
These are my thoughts regarding the push to defund APD, as a 40 year resident of the Blackland Neighborhood and as the first elected city council member of Austin’s District 1. Austin’s peace officers must be highly trained, professional, unbiased, honest officers. There must be an appropriate number of peace officers to protect our growing population.
I am an American woman of African ancestry. Throughout my life, I have been ignored and disrespected, yet, I survived in this body. My perspective is shaped by my life experiences:
· as a child and student during the Jim Crow era in Austin, Iowa City, and New Orleans;
· as an adult protective services worker in Los Angeles; and
· since my return to Austin.
I remind all Austinites about violence against people that look like me. Folks older than I am, my peers, and folks the age of my children, all know about armed vigilantes — people riding on horseback or driving in cars, intimidating and murdering Black folks at will. I write this on the anniversary of the massacre of the people in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, OK.
Individuals who do not know the history of white vigilantes murdering Black people with impunity, may not be aware of the unintended consequences of “defunding the police.” White vigilantism is not only found in history books. In 2020 there are many white supremacist groups which had been underground. Now they feel free to intimidate with deadly weapons — some visible on their waists or across their chests.
White vigilantes killed Trayvon Martin and Mr. Ahmaud Arbery. White vigilantes also decapitated James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, TX in 1998.
Some of those offenders may justify their actions by saying they have a constitutional right to protect themselves, their families, and their property - no questions asked.
Professional police officers are the front-line of our justice system. In the current era, without well-trained, professional, anti-racist police, with integrity, who will arrest the vigilantes? Without an adequately staffed police department, more instances of intimidation and killings may occur.
I remind all Austinites that our city government is purposefully urbanizing Austin, increasing our density to rival that of Manhattan. This is an important consideration when we talk about funding for the police department. Common sense dictates as our population increases, the city requires more peace officers; not fewer.
Yes, Austin also needs additional social services. We need professionals to assist people experiencing homelessness to find adequate housing. We need to help people without jobs. We need to develop and provide effective substance use programs. And, we need special services for people who have been incarcerated and/or discharged from state facilities.
Austinites have many critical needs.
· There is no housing for low-to-moderate wage earners who reside in our city.
· The educational system is segregated.
· The health care and transit systems are lacking,
However, City Hall must not redirect police funding for those much-needed support services. Austin has the money to do both, if we have the will. Perhaps just a portion of our economic development budget could be re-directed to create a city which welcomes newcomers, employers, and visitors, and addresses the pressing needs outlined above.
The police budget should be available for the department to keep up with growth and focus on community policing. This requires mandated training and refresher courses regarding de-escalation, mental health, and unconscious bias. The department must have enough officers to keep the peace throughout the growing city.
When I see a member of Austin’s majority-minority police department, I thank them. Their commitment to public service makes our city safe. I have lived thought many APD chiefs. I know the prior Chief, the current Chief, and members of the department. No, they are not perfect. But they are dedicated, committed, caring professionals who try to do the right thing. They are willing to implement effective and humane ways, to be a model of community policing. I know they are striving to make improvements.
Black members of the community demand equal protection from a department which is well trained, professional, and respectful. Black Austinites expect to be guarded against the vigilantes who may mobilize to “protect” their property with firepower.
These are a few of the reasons I believe Austin needs to hire additional officers who are well trained and professional — a department which is equipped to deal with the ballooning number of people making Austin home.
Austin can deliver the social services the protestors rightfully demand by redirecting funds from the Economic Development budget. We must not jeopardize the fidelity and integrity of our police force. We must support the mission of our peace officers to keep the peace in a fairer, anti-racist city.