(WBAP/KLIF) — Police departments across Texas and the country are struggling to hire new recruits to patrol their streets. The nation-wide “defund the police” movement has put local communities at risk. Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata says the problem is every major city in the country is targeting a limited pool of applicants.
After a shooting in Austin that resulted in delayed police response to the victim, Governor Greg Abbott is vowing to sign a bill to deter defunding police departments. Abbott is pushing the Texas legislature to pass a bill to make it harder form communities to defund local police departments. Senate Bill 23 mandates that municipalities must hold hold an election if it plans to reduces or reallocate funding of police departments.
Mata believes the move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott aimed at protecting police department budgets translates to safety for Texans. The bill has passed the senate, but has been held up in the house until Sunday.
Listen to DPA President, Mike Mata:
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