For Immediate Release
April 2, 2020

Contact:
Cara Gustafson
[email protected]
(561) 797-8267

Dangerous Game: Hutto City Leaders Willing to Sacrifice Public Safety During National Crisis to Solve Budgeting Problems

Law enforcement officers could be in the next round of city layoffs, even during the heightened need of the COVID-19 crisis

AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Tonight, the city leaders of Hutto, Texas are meeting and may consider reducing their police force to solve glaring budgetary problems, a move strongly opposed by the Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) and the Hutto Police Officers Association (HPOA). These two organizations, representing tens of thousands of peace officers collectively, believe that in a time of worldwide crisis, the deliberate decision to put public safety at risk is astonishing and should sound alarm bells for every person living in Hutto.

“The Mayor of Hutto recently painted our current fiscal problems as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, but to our knowledge no other Texas city has made such draconian cuts first to city staff and now potentially to their police department,” said Jeremy Quilimaco, President of HPOA. “The people of Hutto do not deserve to have their public safety threatened because of our city’s fiscal mismanagement.”

City councilmembers lauded Hutto’s ranking as the #1 safest city in Texas on social media as recently as February and even demanded higher pay for their officers. However, in a shocking meeting earlier this week, one councilmember said that the city can no longer afford to be the safest city in Texas and could have to “settle” for “top 30”.

What’s more, law enforcement officers in the city of Hutto have anecdotally reported that both domestic violence calls and welfare checks have increased since “shelter-in-place” orders were established.

“Never in my life have I seen a city show such brazen disregard for its residents’ well being. The COVID-19 crisis demands all hands on deck from first responders, police officers, and all civil servants. To knowingly proceed forward with a reduction in the number of officers available during this time is unimaginable, especially if it is politically motivated,” said Kevin Lawrence, Executive Director of TMPA. “Law and order are more important now than ever.”

TMPA and HPOA are calling on all Hutto residents to call the city at 512-759-4033 and demand that public safety is protected during the coronavirus crisis.

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