“Defund Police” Dems Beg For Police Protection

Congressman Greg Casar, a progressive connected to “The Squad,” is under fire for wanting increased police presence surrounding his residence in spite of his prior attempts to cut funding to the Austin Police Department. Through the US Capitol Police, which then submitted it to the Austin Police Department, Casar—who voted to cut the police budget by over $100 million in 2020 and denounced the agency for purportedly discriminatory practices—made the request.

In a post describing the incident, the Austin Police Retired Officers Association referred to it as the “height of hypocrisy” and advised Casar to employ private security, just like his fellow squad members. Social media users quickly reacted negatively to Casar’s plea, with many accusing him of being hypocritical.

Casar played a significant role in the 2020 defunding campaign against the Austin Police Department, which resulted in a lack of officers and a wave of retirements. He highlighted the reallocation of resources to community safety while applauding the budget cut on social media.

Although Casar has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the Austin Police Department and advocated for systemic changes, the neighborhood responded strongly to his current request for increased police presence at his residence. He was called a “fraud” by his detractors, who also questioned his contradictory views on law enforcement.

The Austin Police Retired Officers Association president, Dennis Farris, described the plea as the “height of hypocrisy” and highlighted the inconsistency between Casar’s prior criticism of the police and the present appeal for their assistance. Farris emphasized the division within Casar’s team while voicing concerns about the security of public servants.

The U.S. House Sergeant at Arms, who manages such concerns in coordination with the U.S. Capitol Police and local law enforcement, was cited by Casar’s office when it declined to comment on current security matters pertaining to the Congressman. According to the Austin Police Department, Casar’s request is being handled with the same consideration and process as any other matter pertaining to public safety.