Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Sen. Dawn Buckingham filed Senate Bills 1405 & 1406 to ensure that Texans feel safe in their communities. These bills would require cities to have police forces that are proportionate to their populations and ensure a new police academy cadet class is conducted should the current police force have more than 50 vacancies.
Sen. Buckingham released the following statement on SB 1405 & 1406:
“As a strong defender of our men and women in law enforcement, I have filed Senate Bills 1405 & 1406 to ensure cities cannot cut their police force at the expense of the safety of their citizens. Texans deserve to feel safe in their communities. With my bills, cities like Austin will no longer be able to find creative ways to defund the police. Despite population growth and rising crime, the Austin City Council cut 150 officer positions in the fiscal year 2020-21 budget and already has nearly 100 additional vacancies.
Additionally, crime trends in Austin show the dangerous and detrimental effect force reduction has on public safety. Last year, murder increased 42%, arson increased 31%, auto-theft increased 31%, aggravated assault increased 22%, and response times are slower.
Providing for the protection and well-being of its citizens is one of the fundamental duties of government. I will never waiver in my support for our men and women in law enforcement and I will ensure that every Texan can feel safe in their community."
