Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, blamed the "defund the police" movement as Austin is seeing what's been described as a "grim milestone" for homicides in 2021. Earlier this week, the Austin-American Statesman reported that despite five months remaining for the year, the number of homicides in 2021 had already reached the level seen for all of 2020. "This is what happens when you villainize law enforcement and defund police," McCaul tweeted on Thursday. "Now more than ever, Austin police need extra support and resources to combat the surge of crime." Last year, the Austin City Council cut $21.5 million from the police budget and diverted another $128 million away, injecting it into other city departments.

Source: Fox News July 29, 2021 20:03 UTC