Retention has been a struggle for the Austin Police Department (APD), with more officers resigning and retiring in 2021 than in the previous two years, according to a report by Austin ABC affiliate KVUE.
Last year, APD had 210 officers look for work elsewhere or enter retirement. In comparison, the 2020 figure was 142 and 68 for 2019, the station reported.
Retired law enforcement veteran Tom Hugganet walked away from a 20-year career with APD last year.
Hugganet was enjoying his role as an APD district representative until the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests arising from it.
He recalled to KVUE how his unit was cut before he retired.
The indictments of the 19 Austin police officers in connection with the May 2020 racial justice protests made Hugganet realize how fortunate he was to have retired.
“To see then later, officers indicted for doing the job they, No. 1 were ordered to do with the equipment they were given, and it just does not seem that this is the type of justice that I signed on to when I was hired," he told KVUE.
According to the Austin Journal, the indictments issued by Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza accused the officers of using excessive force.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed his support for the officers, saying defunding or denigrating law enforcement isn't allowed in Texas.
Ken Casaday with the Austin Police Association said his organization is trying to fill the gaps but the indictments appear to be a detriment, KVUE reported.
Casaday said APD is spread too thin.
“You know after the indictments we’re seeing people who were considering coming here to be a police officer not doing that, and going backing out and going to other places,” he told the station. "Right now we’re sitting at about 1,600 officers which is about 400 fewer than we need."
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon said his department is doing what it can to boost its ranks.
“I’ve got to build greater training capacity," Chacon said, according to KVUE. "I want to have multiple classes that are going at the same time so that we can make an impact overall on the number of vacancies that we have.”