Study confirms Austin officer shortage

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An independent study by the Police Executive Research Forum shows that Austin does not have enough police officers patrolling their streets.

That conclusion comes as no surprise to Austin Police Department which has consistently said they are pushed to the limits with their current staffing numbers.

“It tells us what we already knew,” said Assistant Chief Sean Mannix. “That is that APD is a lean and efficient organization.”

The study calls for 257 officers to be added to the department by 2017 when Austin’s population is expected to be just short of one million people.

You can read the entire report here.

Even if those recommendations are met, Austin would still only be at 2.1 officers per thousand residents, short of the national average of 2.4.

Specifically, the study said APD is lacking enough officers on patrol as well as detectives devoted to investigating criminal crimes.

“You can look at some investigators who are drawing 150 or 200 cases a month,” said Austin Police Association President Wayne Vincent.

While both Vincent and Mannix agreed with most everything in the report, they did disagree with the assertion that civilians could fill some positions in the Real Time Crime Center.

The RTCC monitors the crime cameras downtown and in the Rundberg area.

“I would be hesitant to use civilians for that service unless it is retired police officers,” said Mannix who does think civilians can help the department in other capacities.

Chief Art Acevedo is currently en route to London, but tweeted about the study during an airport stopover .