Actually, who did call the troopers?

Did Watson ask for state troopers –– or merely accept them?

Jack Craver

Jack Craver

— 5 min read
Actually, who did call the troopers?
Local politico and far South Austin resident Jim Wick sends along a picture of the tree carnage wrought by TxDOT as it prepares to expand the southern segment of I-35. "Some of them easily over 100 years old," Wick reckons. 

Who called who(m)? The assistance that the Texas Department of Public Safety is now offering the Austin Police Department was initially framed as Mayor Kirk Watson's idea. But was it?  

In the week since the announcement, those with knowledge of the deal point to a series of events two weeks ago, beginning with a tweet from Sen. Drew Springer, a Republican who represents Collin and Denton counties, about a horrific crime committed against a constituent visiting Austin:

Springer then endorsed the idea of turning at least part of the capital city into a state-run district.

This apparently caught the attention of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

It's not entirely clear to me who called who exactly, but what is clear is that Watson recognized the DPS collaboration as a way to potentially prevent a much greater state intrusion into city affairs. And of course free cops are hard to turn down when we have a cop shortage.  

Read more