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Austin organization sounding alarm over police staffing in city budget proposal

Commission members said there aren't enough Austin police officers, and that keeps them from building relationships.

AUSTIN — An Austin organization is sounding the alarm about the level of police staffing outlined in an early budget proposal from the City of Austin.

The Greater Austin Crime Commission claims Austin Police Department is only requesting funding for 15 more police officers. But the commission wants to see 56 more officers hired next year.

Commission members said there aren't enough officers, and that keeps them from building relationships.

"Community policing is all about eyes on the street and the public having confidence in the police," Pete Winstead with the Greater Austin Crime Commission said. "It's not a lack of money, it's a question of what they're prioritizing."

In a 2016 report from the Matrix Consulting Group, Austin police officers had the lowest available community policing time of any department the consultants had ever analyzed: Just 24 percent of officers' time compared to the recommended 35 to 50 percent.

Austin's budget for the next year will be released next month.

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