'Recent events demonstrate we need to suspend the partnership with DPS,' Mayor Kirk Watson said.
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza announced Wednesday that he had suspended the partnership in consultation with Mayor Kirk Watson.
"From the start of this partnership with DPS, I said I wanted Austinites to feel safe and be safe. Recent events demonstrate we need to suspend the partnership with DPS. The safety of our community is a primary function of City government, and we must keep trying to get it right," Watson said. "This partnership was an innovative approach to address acute staffing shortages that were years in the making. However, any approach must be in sync with Austin values.
The partnership was first announced on March 27, originally forged through conversations with Watson, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov Dan Patrick to support Austin Police as the department builds back its ranks. The City of Austin says the support has resulted in a decrease in violent and gun crime, fewer traffic fatalities, shorter response times to calls for assistance, and seizures of significant amounts of illicit drugs, including fentanyl and heroin.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Public safety commission calls for more accountability in DPS, APD partnershipAustin's Public Safety Commission has approved a resolution calling for more accountability, community engagement and guidelines for the APD/DPS partnership.
Read more »
DPS troopers point gun at 10-year-old, his dad in South Austin'I thought they were supposed to protect me': 10-year-old Angel Meza recalls the brief moment when he says DPS troopers pointed their guns at him outside his home in South Austin.
Read more »
Parents, candidates call on DPS to reinstate fired McAuliffe International School principalIn the days since Dennis was terminated, parents have gathered more than 5,000 signatures on an online petition demanding DPS reinstate him as McAuliffe’s principal.
Read more »
Netflix's 'Quarterback': Will Kirk Cousins be the breakout star?Every good reality show features a breakout star who's just looking to go viral: the bachelorette who elbows her rivals in the face, the chef who manages to sneak a cockroach into their rival's sponge cake, the housemate who backstabs everyone in a three-mile radius. Catch the nation's eye, and you might just get a product line or reality show of your own. Or at least a few more Instagram followers.
Read more »