The Texas Department of Public Safety has partnered with the Austin Police Department to help address staffing challenges. Since the beginning of the collaboration, state troopers and DPS special agents have been actively working the streets of Austin. Data provided by DPS shows they have conducted 1,570 traffic stops, issued 765 citations and conducted 15 accident investigations since April 3.
Impact and Concerns
Although the drug seizure by DPS is positive, criminal defense attorney Tayrin Cardenas Wittenstein has expressed concern about the increase in traffic stops and traffic citations, which is setting the city back in instead of moving forward. Additionally, he has noted that many people who would never have been detained otherwise are being arrested primarily for their appearance, which has collateral consequences for people who are undocumented and arrested for minor crimes.
City of Austin’s Data Tracking Efforts
The City of Austin is tracking data on DPS activity and its impact on crime reduction. Acting Deputy City Manager Bruce Mills has stated that the partnership with DPS has had a positive impact on the visibility of police presence and response times, and that they are developing a dashboard to track the data and quantify the impact. of DPS support.
Workload Challenges and Overall Safety
However, the increase in arrests is causing an increased workload for jail employees, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Overall, the collaboration between DPS and Austin Police has been beneficial in keeping Austinites safe during the spring festival season and beyond, although concerns about traffic stops and citations must be addressed for ensure that collaboration is effective and fair.
