A radical Democrat congressman has demanded the Austin Police Department provide security patrols at his home.
However, the same Democrat “Squad” member, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), has been one of the leading voices in the far-left “Defund the Police” movement.
As a city council member, Casar successfully campaigned to defund the Austin Police Department (APD) by a staggering $100 million.
Just last week, he also blasted the APD for alleged racist practices.
Now Casar has been met with a backlash after requesting a police patrol at his home from the same defunded department.
The Austin Police Retired Officers Association responded to the demand from Casar in a post on X Tuesday:
“It’s come to our attention that Anti police king of the defund movement in Austin @GregCasar who only last week called APD an agency with racist practices has requested enhanced patrols around his house for the next week.
“We want everyone in Austin to feel safe,” the post added.
“But this seems to us as the height of hypocrisy from the congressman.
“Maybe he should hire private security like his fellow squad members do.
“Sure seems like he wants the police in his neighborhood just not yours.”
It’s come to our attention that Anti police king of the defund movement in Austin @GregCasar who only last week called APD an agency with racist practices has requested enhanced patrols around his house for the next week. We want everyone in Austin to feel safe. 1/
— Austin Police Retired Officers Association (@APROA01) December 19, 2023
Casar’s request was made through the United States Capitol Police in Washington, D.C..
The request was then forwarded the request to the Austin Police Department.
Casar was perhaps the most vocal driver of defunding the Austin Police Department in 2020 while he was a member of the city council.
It led to a police shortage, a wave of officer retirements, and soaring crime rates that critics say the city has still not recovered from.
“We did it!!” Casar posted on X in August 2020.
“Austin City Council just reduced APD’s budget by over $100 million *and* reinvested resources into our community’s safety and well-being.”
We did it!! Austin City Council just reduced APD's budget by over $100 million *and* reinvested resources into our community's safety and well-being. Tens of thousands of you have called, emailed, and testified. You made the impossible into a reality. #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/trrYSDEOK6
— Greg Casar (@GregCasar) August 13, 2020
Additionally, Casar sent a letter last week to the Justice Department criticizing practices within the Austin Police Department.
He highlighted the “need for systemic reforms to the Department’s policies and practices of excessive and lethal use of force, racial discrimination, and discrimination against people with mental health conditions.”
News of the request for the security detail drew immediate criticism from Austin residents on social media.
Many suggested the request was an example of hypocrisy.
“So @GregCasar believes APD is a racist institution that requires DOJ oversight but then requests more APD patrols around his house,” Austin personal injury attorney Adam Loewy posted on X.
“Interesting juxtaposition.”
“Greg Casar is a fraud,” Travis County GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak posted on X.
Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officers Association, told Fox News Digital he believes Casar should receive extra protection if there are officers available to do it and there is a credible threat but added the request is the “height of hypocrisy.”
“A week ago, he was calling the Austin Police Department a racist department that targeted Black and brown people, and this week he’s asking the exact same department to do enhanced patrols around his house,” Farris said.
“It doesn’t matter what political party they’re in. If they ask us for our help, we will give it to them,” Farris added.
“The last thing we want is something happening to them. My issue with it and the issue that most of my members are going to have with it is the fact that this guy, you know, it’s the whole squad thing, right?
“It’s the whole, ‘We hate the cops, we hate the cops, we hate the cops. Oh, please, come help us now.’
“He is the architect. He is the architect of defund the cops in Austin.
“He started this whole mess.”
Casar’s office responded to the backlash by issuing a weak statement, saying:
“Our office has not been in communication with the Austin Police Department on this matter because these issues are handled by the United States Sergeant at Arms, who then works with U.S. Capitol Police and local law enforcement agencies.”
Casar’s office pointed to a statement from U.S. House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland that said:
“The Sergeant at Arms takes the safety of Members of Congress very seriously.
“We ask the public and law enforcement agencies to not comment on specific security measures or active cases because doing so exposes potential vulnerabilities.”
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