Texas troopers assisting with Austin policing crisis redirected to the border

Texas troopers who had been making up for a 500-officer shortfall in the Austin Police Department have been redirected to the border — leaving the city in disarray.

Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers have been redirected to border communities overwhelmed with migrants crossing into the US as Title 42 ended.

In the days leading up to expiration of the federal policy, cities like El Paso and Brownsville were flooded with migrants and extra officers have been needed to help keep the border secure and support border officers dealing with overcrowded facilities.

“Because of needs that the state sees with the expiration of Title 42, DPS sees the border as a higher priority for its resources at this time,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson told The Post.

DPS officers had been called in by Watson to aid the emaciated Austin Police Department in late March as the capital faces a 488 officer shortfall, according to the police union, due to extreme left-leaning policies leading to mass defections.

“It just shows how big this [border] problem is because DPS is having to be pulled away from other areas of Texas that still need their help because they have to respond to the greater threat,” one officer who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity said.

“Right now the greater threat is stopping terrorists from entering our country, sex offenders, child molesters.”

DPS officers had a significant impact in Austin and in less than two months of having boots on the ground according to Police Chief Joseph Chacon, who said they made a high number of arrests, took stolen guns and vehicles from the streets and recovered large quantities for illegal narcotics.

Violent crime such as sexual assault, crimes with weapons, murder and robbery went down 25% across the city, the chief said, adding in the specific crime-ridden areas where troopers were assigned, a 58% reduction in criminal activity was reported.

“You see more of a law enforcement presence everywhere you go — when you have that, that greater visibility of law enforcement, it is a deterrent,” Chacon added.

“If people think there is a chance that they’re going to get caught, may just go ahead and decide that they’re not going to commit the crime.”

For months, Austin police have been redirecting 911 calls to the non-emergency 311 line because there aren’t enough officers to respond.

The beleaguered department has also pulled detectives from solving cases to act as patrol officers.

However, with extra assistance they were able to get to calls quicker, lowering response times from 9.5 minutes to 7.5 minutes citywide.

However, now Austin police are facing the same problems as before.

“You’re left to having to prioritize the greatest calls for service, your highest risk calls, with what little staffing you have,” the Austin officer said.

“It’s going to continue to add to the strain, the burnout that is happening. Sadly, the criminal element is going to continue to thrive in Austin.”

Mayor Watson told The Post the city would remain in contact with DPS to see when they could return.

“It is anticipated the effort at the border will be DPS’ priority for at least two weeks,” Watson explained.

Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott is calling in border reinforcements from other states.

“Idaho will send State Police to support our response to the border crisis & help stop drug & human smuggling,” Abbott tweeted Monday.

Idaho are sending member of their state police to the border with the aim of helping stop deadly drugs being smuggled into the country, while Florida has offered to send hundreds of Florida National Guard troops as well as drones.

“Idaho is proud to support the State of Texas’ efforts to fight fentanyl,” tweeted Idaho Gov. Brad Little. “The training our team will receive while in TX will help keep Idahoans safe and save lives.”

Abbott’s office declined comment on specifics of the operation, but on Tuesday, he had called on governors in the rest of the nation to help his state in a letter.

“Texas alone should not have to shoulder the financial burden of protecting our nation.” Abbott stated — adding that the Lone Star State has already spent $4.6 billion on border security and could spend the same in the next two years.

Nearly 3.5 million migrants have crossed into Texas since 2020 — about half of all the came into the US through the southern border, according to federal statistics.