AUSTIN, Texas — Amid what has been described as an "uptick in violent crime in Austin during recent months," the University of Texas at Austin President Gregory Fenves announced that the university is expanding its police force and investing in safety equipment to improve security around West Campus.
A vote by the UT System Board of Regents on Thursday, Feb. 27, approved $8 million in funding to go toward the improvements. UT Police Chief David Carter spoke to KVUE on Feb. 28 about where and how that money will be allocated.
"Chief Manley has made it clear that one of the things that’s of concern, concern to us and concern to the UT community, as well as the entire City of Austin, is the fact that violent crime has in fact gone up across the city," said Chief Carter.
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The $8 million will be distributed to different aspects of security over the span of four years, according to Carter. That means $2 million will be distributed every year.
Eleven new UT police officers and two new police sergeants will be hired.
Chief Carter said the training academy takes around six months to complete. However, Carter said police will be on West Campus immediately. UTPD will pay officers overtime to start patrolling the district in the interim.
Carter said the UT Police Department is creating a seventh district that will encompass West Campus, a neighborhood that is technically not on UT property. UTPD will also create a substation on Guadalupe Street.
"It’s clear that APD needs additional support so we need to do our part," said Chief Carter. "We’re working in conjunction and collaboratively with APD, as well as DPS, to patrol areas on and around campus. And wherever we can support our UT community is where UTPD wants to be."
Students on campus said they're excited to hear about the new safety plans.
"It’s just nice knowing that a campus cares about their students, not just they’re here for a degree and then they leave," said Jonathan Alvarez, a sophomore who lives on West Campus. "They want to make an environment here to feel safe and everyone here to feel safe."
The money will also go toward creating a HALO camera system, similar to what the Austin Police Department uses in Downtown Austin. Carter hopes to have the cameras up and running sometime in the summer of 2020. Carter told KVUE on Friday he eventually hopes to link it up with APD's system.
The university also said they will invest in vehicles, equipment and other technology solutions.
After four years, Chief Carter said they will evaluate what is working and determine if anything needs to be enhanced.
“We don’t just want to be reactive here. The fact is crime is going up around the city. We have to get in front of that,” Carter said.
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