Chief wants $2.9 million for more cops

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police Chief Art Acevedo is asking the Austin City Council to allocate $2.9 million so the department can boost staffing to ensure that the city has a ratio of two officers for every 1,000 people.

The request is going before the Council on Wednesday as members dive deeper into developing the budget for the upcoming year.

The Council is also expected to take up the police department's request for a helicopter to replace the aging aircraft it currently uses.

The department has asked the Council to allocate $3.745 million for the purchase of a B3 helicopter. If approved, it would probably take up to a year and a half for the new helicopter to arrive.

In addition to assisting with the department's law enforcement operations, the new helicopter would also be outfitted with equipment to assist with battling wildfires.

It can hold more than 3,000 pounds of equipment and carry as many as seven people.

The department recently added 15 new officers in mid-July to its force, but Acevedo said it was one of the smallest classes in recent years -- a size directly impacted by city budget constraints.

And while it brings the force's numbers to 1,646 officers, it's still short of a full staff number closer to 1,700. That's all while demand for new officers continues to grow.

A 33-page report out in early July said there are still more than 250 positions that need to be added to keep up with population projections.

"It showed what we already knew; that we could use several hundred more officers, but despite the fact we don't have those officers we continue to work very efficiently, very effectively. And despite the tremendous work load we have, we're delivering one of the safest cities in the country, and it's deserved," said Chief Art Acevedo following Wednesday's budget session.

APD recommendations

• 155 officers
• 78 detectives
• 24 sergeants
• 257 total by 2017

And even that would leave the department staffed below the national average, estimated at 1 officer per 2.11 thousand.

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

Crime statistics

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