Category: Neighborhood Network

Neighborhood Network

April 13, 2023

Dear Neighbor, The Central Texas Public Safety Commission believes Mayor Kirk Watson’s recently announced agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is a lesson in leadership. We also thank the city council and Interim City Manager Jesús Garza for supporting the partnership. Our local and state leaders put political differences aside to develop a plan… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

September 14, 2022

Dear Neighbor, The Austin City Council will consider three police-related items tomorrow that will have far-reaching effects on law enforcement in our community. Every public safety decision by city leaders is now even more consequential. The impact of budget cuts and canceling police cadet classes is evident. The Austin Police Department currently has 278 operational vacancies, creating… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

August 11, 2022

Dear Neighbor, The Austin City Council will adopt a budget for the upcoming fiscal year starting next Wednesday. Public safety spending has declined in recent years. In 2015, public safety was 72 percent of the General Fund. The proposed budget lowers it to 62 percent. That reduction represents $422 million less in public safety spending as a percentage of… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

July 18, 2022

Dear Neighbor, After two rewarding years, my term as the twelfth president of the Central Texas Public Safety Commission recently ended. Board members elected Eddie Margain to lead the organization in its twenty-fifth year, and a future focused on public safety training resources. Eddie and his family have made Austin their home for more than a decade.… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

March 23, 2022

Dear Neighbor, The Austin Police Department’s 145th cadet class starts Monday. More than eighty are expected to begin the training academy. A transitional training program for current police officers is scheduled for July and another regular academy for the fall. The Austin Police Department has 195 operational vacancies. The first phase of an Austin Police Department staffing research project… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

February 22, 2022

Dear Neighbor, Last week, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced felony indictments against nineteen Austin police officers related to the riots during the summer of 2020. The charges carry prison sentences of five to ninety-nine years or life. There are legitimate questions about what evidence was presented to the grand jury. To ensure public confidence in the… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

February 16, 2022

Dear Neighbor, Since the Austin Police Department patrol staffing model was released last month, the Central Texas Public Safety Commission has met with city council members and community groups to review the research. The Austin Chamber of Commerce board voted unanimously to support the patrol staffing model recommendations. The second research phase is underway to model administrative and specialized units,… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

January 28, 2022

Dear Neighbor, The Austin Police Department’s 144th Cadet Class graduates today. The ceremony will be broadcast and livestreamed on ATXN beginning at 2:00 p.m. Admiral Bob Inman (USN, Ret), a former Crime Commission president, is the featured speaker, and I will present the Honor Cadet award. Media coverage of the Austin Police Department patrol staffing model funded by the Central… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

January 11, 2022

Dear Neighbor, The Central Texas Public Safety Commission turns twenty-five this year. Since 1997, we’ve supported Central Texas first responders and promoted public safety planning. Our silver anniversary begins with a groundbreaking police staffing project announced today by Police Chief Joseph Chacon. Austin is the first city to use machine learning to model police staffing. The Central Texas Public… Read more »

Neighborhood Network

November 17, 2021

Dear Neighbor, I’m thankful for the dedicated first responders that keep our businesses, churches, neighborhoods, and schools safe. As we look ahead to a new year, the Central Texas Public Safety Commission is focused on the future. We’ll work on patrol staffing, long-term budget planning, and EMS, fire, and police contracts. When the Austin City Council… Read more »