Federal authorities' vow to cut violent crime in Austin strong on words but thin on details

U.S. Attorney Gregg Sofer on Friday announced that federal officials will begin working to reduce violent crime in Austin, though details were scarce about how the existing partnerships between local and federal law enforcement agencies would be enhanced. 

Sofer introduced Operation Undaunted in downtown Austin, flanked by two large charts that showed how homicides and aggravated assaults rose this year in Austin compared to 2019.

"Violent crime is skyrocketing in the Austin area. ... We simply cannot and will not stand idly by as violent criminals take over our streets," Sofer said. 

Some experts wondered if the announcement was more political than practical as incoming presidential administrations typically replace U.S. attorneys as they establish new agendas at the Justice Department.

"My first instinct would be that this is motivated by Sofer's career aspirations, knowing that he's at the end of a cycle with the Trump administration, having just over a month to go," said Mark Jones, a Rice University political scientist.

Sofer was appointed to replace U.S. Attorney John Bash two months ago, after Bash resigned to work in the private sector. Sofer, who at the time was Bash's criminal division chief, led the prosecution of a man who attempted to assassinate state District Judge Julie Kocurek in 2015.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, who spoke to reporters after the Friday conference, had a message that was more moderate than Sofer's: "We're fortunate in Austin that our homicide rate is so much lower than other major cities that surround us, but we also have to be equally as concerned with the increases we've seen this year."

Austin police have reported 45 people killed in homicides so far this year, compared to 29 at this time last year. This year, 2,907 aggravated assaults were reported, compared to 2,419 last year. As for robberies, 1,014 were reported this year, compared to 964 last year. Other violent crimes, such as sexual assault and simple assault, are down this year.

Many U.S. cities have seen upticks in crime during the pandemic. A September FBI report said homicides nationwide increased by nearly 15% in the first six months of 2020. The number of homicides in Houston this year — nearly 400 — are now the highest they have been in at least 15 years, KPRC-TV reported this month. 

Other cities in Sofer's federal jurisdiction — such as San Antonio, which recorded 124 homicides this year — have a higher crime rate than Austin. 

"Operation Undaunted" will tackle violent crime in Austin, Sofer said. Officials will use the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network to compare ballistics evidence recovered from crime scenes, which is a program that Austin police already use in collaboration with federal officials, he said Friday.

Over the past several months, the Austin Police Department has added additional officers to work with this ballistics data, Manley said. 

"We expect with our partnership with the feds to use the NIBIN system to a greater extent than we've been able to in the past," Manley said.

Sofer said federal officials will form multi-agency major crime teams to review recent shootings, armed robberies and homicides. Additionally, they will engage Texas Anti-Gang Centers to collaborate on a top 10 list of violent offenders, he said.

Officials will also work with law enforcement to identify robberies that could qualify for federal prosecution. They will also facilitate regular meetings between civilian and military law enforcement about violent crime on military bases, such as Fort Hood, which is also in Sofer's federal district. 

Political rhetoric

Austin's crime rate has become politicized on both sides because of the city's homelessness policy and police budget decisions by the Austin City Council. Public camping is now allowed in Austin, with some exceptions, and the Austin City Council in the summer canceled upcoming Austin Police Academy classes. 

In October, Gov. Greg Abbott sat alongside Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Lake Jackson, and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to reiterate plans for a state takeover of police functions in Austin. 

“The city of Austin is a disaster if you haven’t been there," Patrick said. "A great city, now one of the most dangerous cities in America and definitely in Texas.”

PolitiFact later rated that statement false, based on national and state crime data. 

“It’s inaccurate to say that Austin has suddenly shot up and become this super dangerous place,” Texas State University criminologist Sean Roche said. 

The City Council did vote to cut $21.5 million from the Police Department’s funding by canceling three upcoming cadet classes, but some of that money could be returned if classes resume in the spring, which Austin Mayor Steve Adler has expressed an interest in doing. Civil unrest this summer prompted the City Council to rework what members have viewed as a failed training system at the police academy, deciding they could not go forward with any more cadet classes with the existing curriculum. They also eliminated about 150 vacant officer positions.

“It’s not a punitive measure; it’s not even a cost-saving measure,” Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said in October. “The academy we have is not training people consistent with the values of this community.”

The council in November picked a consultant to audit the existing curriculum. That consultant would then be expected to deliver a final report with recommendations in December 2021.

On Friday, Manley said he wants to see classes resume to get more officers on the street.

"If we go on with this attrition rate of roughly 12 officers a month, we will lose approximately another 150 officers on top of the 150 positions that were removed," Manley said. "As a police chief that is very concerning, because I do believe wholeheartedly that one of the greatest deterrences to crime is a visible police force. And that's why we're grateful that the state of Texas has stepped up and has put together plans to supplement us — especially in the downtown area with DPS troopers." 

Last summer, the City Council also voted to shift $129 million out of the Police Department budget into two transitional funds, and the council said it would work out more details about how to best move those funds in the coming year. That funding has not yet been touched.

City Council Member Greg Casar said the city is investing in measures that researchers believe will reduce crime.

“We absolutely must do better to keep everyone safe, especially in low-income areas," Casar said Friday. "That’s exactly what our City Council is committed to doing through our new investments in anti-gun violence programs, family violence shelters, and violence intervention initiatives."

If the Trump Administration was truly looking to combat crime, Casar said, "they would prioritize any of the other big cities in Texas which all have much higher homicide rates than us, rather than engage in theatrics.”