Austin`s Public Safety Agencies Pitch Budget, Staff Increases
June 05--Austin police, fire and emergency medical services leaders outlined proposed personnel increases slated for the next five years during budget presentations to the Public Safety Commission Monday afternoon.
Authorities are anticipating a need for just under 600 new employees spread across the three agencies through 2022.
Austin police made the case for adding 329 sworn positions and 83.5 civilian positions during that time frame.
Sworn positions would include 163 spots for community policing, 100 detectives to address workloads in child abuse, sex crimes, robbery, burglary and digital forensics, eight for the Highway Response Team and Missing Persons, 10 for the Homeless Outreach Street Team and 7 corporals for DWI and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.
Another 41 positions would be added for a new sector by 2022 as well.
Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday said Monday that adding more officers to APD's ranks is critical as case loads continue to stack up.
He said detectives are overworked and just don't have enough help.
"I can't tell you how short-handed we are," he said.
Assistant Chief Troy Gay, however, said that could be changing.
He said cadets who are slated to complete training through the rest of 2017 are expected to bring the department to full staffing by January of 2018.
Austin-Travis County EMS is looking to add 82 sworn positions and another 9 civilian employees.
Sworn employees for EMS would include 18 positions for three new peak-load units, 24 medics for single paramedic response units, 24 positions for two additional stations, eight communications medics to handle increased 911 call volume and eight more for training, management and a new command district.
The fire department also asked to give its ranks a bump by adding 80 sworn positions and seven civilian staffers.
The new sworn positions include 16 for the Onion Creek ladder unit, 48 for three new stations, six battalion chiefs and 10 for special events, dispatch and inspection.
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