APD cadets lace up their running shoes

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Running shoes and gym shorts replaced navy blue uniforms for some Austin police officers Thursday morning.

That's because Chief Art Acevedo and other department staffers took part in the annual "Chief's Run.” The force is welcoming 15 cadets who will graduate Friday and join the force.

The run started at 7 a.m. from the Texas Peace Officers Memorial on state Capitol grounds, and finished up at the south end of the Congress Avenue bridge. The tradition is intended to focus on unity within the community and department.

The addition of the 15 cadets comes as the Austin Police Department faces a staffing shortage.

A 33-page report out last week said to keep up with population projections, APD needs to add 155 officers, 78 detectives and 24 sergeants by 2017. And even that would leave the department staffed below the national average.

The report also said civilians could fill up to 29 of those positions, but many on the force are hesitant to staff with civilians, unless they’re retired officers.

Meanwhile, new crime numbers are now out. According to the chief's monthly report, violent crime in June is down in Austin, for the most part.

Notable drops are the numbers of robberies, rapes and assaults. Those crimes are down from June 2011.

However, the report says three more murders have happened so far in 2012 compared to this time last year. Auto thefts are also on the rise.