The Austin Police Association is blaming the city’s reallocation of police funding for continued retirements and resignations within the department.
On Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, a Facebook post on the APA page named one of the latest officers to choose to resign, Officer Lindsay Thorstenson. The post says Thorstenson announced her resignation because her district representative position in south Austin was cut.
However, the Austin Police Department leadership, who works for the liberal/leftist Austin city government, countered the APA's comments. The City’s official position is that Thorstenson took the position as a district representative last fall, after five years of serving on patrol.
What cannot be disputed is that more than 40 officers have resigned, and 100 have retired since the anti-police movement started in 2020. The "defund the police" movement has created a political and social atmosphere of disrespect and hatred toward the police, making it difficult for officers to work.
Public servants (police and firefighters) who put their lives on the line daily should be provided the best pay and benefits of any public employees.We must support the police and oppose the liberal/leftist anti-police movement in all communities, particularly from liberal/leftist city governments.