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Police chiefs in Houston, San Antonio and Austin said at the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday that a combination of soaring crime rates, an unprecedented drop in police force and weak prosecutions for violent crimes puts Texas’ largest police department at risk. said to be exposed to .
“There is a lack of value for life and people’s health,” said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.
San Antonio has had 183 homicides so far this year, an 86.7% increase from the same period in 2021, and the death of 53 migrants during a human trafficking operation in June. , the numbers are inflated.
Houston saw a surge in crime in 2021, with 473 homicides last year, up from 261 in 2020. Texas’ largest city has 323 murders so far in 2022, down slightly from his 327 murders reported during the same period. last year’s frame.
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Houston Police Chief Troy Finner has accused the coronavirus pandemic of shutting down the court system and a “fragmented criminal justice system.”
“The DA is arguing with the police chief. The police chief is arguing with the judge. Everyone has to band together, but more importantly, make excuses and act like they aren’t there.” I can’t,” Finner said Saturday. “
“As a chief, I find it very frustrating when no one wants to talk about common sense when our men and women are in danger and dealing with all this crap that is out there right now. I have,” Finner continued.
“We need a system where violent individuals are brought to justice. They deserve a fair trial. They are convicted and put in prison. There is a place for violent criminals. , when we do that, we’ll crank it right. You’ll see a reduction in crime, guaranteed.”
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Austin had 89 murders last year. This is a record high for the city, but still relatively low considering the state capital has a population of around 1 million. The Austin Police Department’s ability to respond to rising crime rates is complicated by high levels of decline.
APD director Joseph Chacon said that before the coronavirus pandemic, an average of five to seven police officers left the police force a month, but by the spring of 2020, that number had increased. said it jumped to more than 25 people.
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“With COVID hitting in March 2020 and the George Floyd incident in May, it was really a one-two punch,” Chacon said.
“Between the two, we’ve seen record numbers of people resigning and leaving.”
Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.