"The lack of cadet classes at APD over the last couple of years has contributed to an officer staffing shortage," the Austin Police Department (APD) told Fox News. “These officers’ duties and tasks while assigned to SOAR were to perform sex offender compliance checks, and to track down and arrest those with outstanding warrants. With the absence of these officers in the SOAR unit to assist with these tasks, the unit has limited capacity to perform these functions. There are currently 1 sergeant, 3 detectives, 1 full time civilian, and 2 part time civilians who now work in this unit."
“There are no officers going out to check on the whereabouts of these violent offenders and it appals me. At a very minimum the city is responsible for public safety and we are doing an injustice to victims of violent crimes by not staffing this unit," she said.