The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Violent Crime Task Force will be ending operations in Austin on December 23, according to KXAN.
The cessation of the task force, believed to have been funded through April 2024, leaves many questions unanswered, including whether DPS will ever reinstate the initiative. DPS press secretary Ericka Miller cited, "the ever-changing situation," at the border as the reason for the redeployment of troopers, following a controversial law signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott allowing for the arrest, detention, and deportation of those suspected of illegal border crossings, as reported by KXAN.
The partnership, however, was not without its criticisms and setbacks, including allegations of over-policing in communities of color, and a contentious incident in July where a trooper reportedly drew a gun on a 10-year-old boy during a traffic stop. The incident led to a suspension of the partnership, a move that was short-lived as Governor Abbott promptly ordered additional troopers to patrol Austin streets without APD oversight. Through all its vicissitudes, the Mayor remains steadfast, asserting, "Our officers have our back and we'll have theirs," in a statement obtained by KXAN.
