On September 19, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted its monthly, virtual Safety Forum, where officials provided updates on safety, crime data and upcoming initiatives impacting downtown Austin.
Austin Police Department update
Austin Police Department Commander Craig Smith shared the latest downtown crime statistics. Over the past year, crime in the APD Downtown Area Command sector has seen a 12% reduction in overall thefts and a 15% decrease in burglaries. Smith emphasized APD’s focus on high-crime areas and stressed the importance of securing vehicles and personal belongings to prevent crimes of opportunity. However, despite these positive trends, vehicle burglaries have increased by 8% and motor vehicle thefts have risen by 5%, which APD attributes to opportunistic behavior, especially in parking garages.
The issue of phone thefts in downtown’s nightlife district, particularly on West Sixth Street, remains a concern. Smith reported that phone theft incidents have increased by 20% in the past quarter, with organized pickpocketing rings targeting patrons at bars. Smith urged attendees to stay vigilant by keeping phones in hand or secured in a front pocket while out. According to APD data, 75% of stolen phones are eventually shipped overseas, contributing to international theft networks.
Efforts to reduce drug-related offenses downtown have shown progress. APD has conducted 120 drug-related arrests in the past month alone, reflecting an increased enforcement focus on these crimes. Smith noted a 25% rise in drug and weapons violations over the past six months due to heightened police activity in key areas like alleyways, where illegal activities, including drug transactions, frequently occur. APD’s partnership with City Council has also led to the installation of 10 new light trailers in alleyways across downtown, aimed at deterring criminal behavior and improving overall safety.
Updates on illegal after-hours bars
Lieutenant Christopher Juusola provided an update about APD’s ongoing efforts to address after-hours bars operating illegally by serving alcohol past the 2am These establishments not only violate city permits but also contribute to increased crime, including public intoxication, assaults and disturbances that strain police resources late into the night.
APD has partnered with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, code enforcement and the state comptroller’s office to conduct thorough inspections of these establishments. They are focused on identifying patterns of repeated violations, such as serving alcohol without a permit, and are actively issuing fines, suspensions and shutdown orders for non-compliant bars. Juusola emphasized that a multi-agency task force has been set up to conduct regular surprise inspections, targeting high-risk areas.
To maintain compliance, APD is engaging with business owners in proactive discussions, ensuring they understand legal requirements and encouraging voluntary adherence. For those who continue to violate regulations, enforcement actions include revoking liquor licenses, issuing penalties and pursuing legal remedies to close persistent offenders.
The Austin Sobering Center
Laura Elmore LeBlanc, CEO of the Austin-Travis County Sobering Center, gave a special presentation on the center’s impact since its 2018 founding. The Sobering Center serves as a safe alternative to jail or the emergency room for individuals dealing with public intoxication, reducing the burden on first responders.
The center has conducted over 10,000 intakes, with approximately 60% of visitors being one-time users, such as tourists or locals enjoying a night out. Meanwhile, the remaining 40% are chronic users in need of additional care. By expanding its referral pathways to include organizations like Integral Care, CapMetro and the University of Texas at Austin, service numbers have increased, and the Center is now expanding its capacity to hold individuals longer to assist those in need of longer-term substance abuse treatment.
Through its partnership with Austin EMS, the Sobering Center also offers bridge medications and suboxone induction for individuals struggling with alcohol or opioid addiction. The average intake time at the center is under eight minutes, significantly reducing the time officers or EMS spend processing cases, allowing them to return to their duties quicker.
City of Austin Budget highlights
The forum covered key updates from the city’s FY25 budget, which included several initiatives aimed at improving public safety and addressing homelessness. The budget allocated $18 million for increased APD funding, $400,000 to expand the HEART (Homelessness Outreach Assistance Response Team) outreach pilot to a year-round program, $300,000 for the mental health diversion pilot and nearly $1 million for an EMS mobile unit in the entertainment district. Additionally, $63,000 was designated to support continued operations at the Sobering Center, ensuring this critical resource remains available to the community.
HEART Austin update
The HEART Austin homeless outreach pilot was funded and launched by the Downtown Alliance in February. The pilot, which focuses on helping the unhoused population, has facilitated over 1,600 interactions, reunified 57 people with their families and accepted 106 individuals into shelters. Initially launched as a six-month pilot, the program was extended through September.
Looking ahead, HEART will transition into a permanent initiative with funding support in the city budget that will enable expansion of the geographic service area and operational hours. This program plays a critical role in addressing the needs of the downtown unhoused population and providing access to essential services such as shelter, meals and hygiene kits. It effectively addresses non-emergency issues involving people who are homeless with non-emergency resources.
Downtown Safety Team
The Downtown Safety Team, which launched in May, continues to make significant progress in enhancing downtown safety. Since Phase 2 of the program began in July, the team has expanded its operations, with four team members patrolling at all hours from 6pm to 10pm daily, overnight patrols in Republic Square during overnight hours, and a 5pm to 3am Thursday through Sunday night mobile patrol. In just three months, the team has logged over 1,200 hours of active patrols and made 3,500 interactions with the public, focusing on ordinance compliance and assisting individuals in need.
The team’s efforts have led to a 90% compliance rate for requests to vacate public spaces, significantly improving the overall environment. In August alone, the team successfully addressed 400 instances of non-compliance, helping to reduce loitering and public disturbances.
In October, the Safety Team will expand further to include 23 full-time members, which will allow for increased coverage throughout the central business district. This growth will ensure that downtown remains a safe and welcoming space for residents, businesses and visitors while also helping to manage the influx of people during peak times, such as major events and festivals.
Upcoming events and conventions
Downtown Austin expects more than 30,000 visitors over the coming weeks for large-scale conferences and trade shows, including the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Formula 1 weekend at Circuit of the Americas. This influx of visitors will boost downtown businesses and create a vibrant atmosphere as the city heads into the busy fall season.
Join us for more
The next Downtown Austin Safety Forum is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 17, at 8:30 am and will feature EMS Chief Robert Luckritz, who will discuss EMS’s efforts to improve safety downtown. Register for the October Safety Forum here.