‘Squad’ Dem Greg Casar who proudly voted to defund Austin Police is slammed after requesting enhanced police patrols at his home
A congressman affiliated with the “Squad” who proudly voted to defund Austin police has come under fire after he called for increased patrols near his home in the Texas city.
Democratic Rep. Greg Casar played a prominent role in defending the Austin Police Department as a city councilman in 2020 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. Last week he also criticized the force for alleged racist practices.
He has now submitted a request through the US Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., for a police patrol at his home – a request that has been forwarded to Austin police.
The politician was criticized by the Austin Retired Police Officers Association in a post Tuesday.
“We want everyone in Austin to feel safe,” the post said. “But to us this seems like the height of hypocrisy on the part of the congressman.”
Congressman Greg Casar (left), who is affiliated with the “Squad” and proudly voted to defund Austin police, came under fire after calling for increased patrols near his home in the city. Pictured: Kasar with Reps. Jasmine Crockett and Ilhan Omar.
As a City Council member in 2020, he played an active role in the fight over funding for the Austin Police Department and last week criticized the police force for alleged racist practices.
The politician was criticized by the Austin Retired Police Officers Association in a post Tuesday.
Casar supported the vote to defund the Austin police as a city council member, and it led to a police shortage as well as a wave of officer firings.
“We did it!!,” he wrote in a post on X in August 2020. “The Austin City Council just cut APD’s budget by over $100 million *and* reinvested resources into the safety and well-being of our community.”
However, last week a Texas congressman sent a letter to the Justice Department criticizing the Austin Police Department.
He wrote about “the need for systemic reforms of the Department’s policies and practices on excessive and lethal force, racial discrimination, and discrimination against people with mental disabilities.”
The Austin Retired Police Officers Association was unimpressed by his request for increased patrols around his home by the same officers he criticized.
“It has come to our attention that anti-police king of the Austin crowdfunding movement @GregCasar, who just last week called APD an agency engaged in racist practices, has demanded increased patrols around his home next week,” the association wrote.
“Perhaps he should hire private security, like his colleagues in the squad do.” Sounds like he wants the police in his area, not yours.
Austin residents were also quick to accuse the congressman of being a hypocrite on social media.
“So @GregCasar believes APD is a racist agency that requires oversight from the DOJ, but then demands APD do more patrols around his home,” personal injury attorney Adam Lowy wrote. “Interesting juxtaposition.”
Casar supported the vote to defund the Austin police as a city council member, and it led to a police shortage as well as a wave of officer firings.
But he submitted a request through the U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., for a police patrol outside his home. The request was sent to Austin police. Photo: Austin Police Department headquarters.
The Austin Retired Police Officers Association was unimpressed by his request for increased patrols around his home by the same officers he criticized.
While Travis County GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak said, “Greg Casar is a fraud.”
Dennis Farris, president of the Retired Austin Police Officers Association, said Casar should be entitled to additional protection if there are officers available and there is a credible threat.
But he told Fox News the request was “the height of hypocrisy.”
“A week ago he called the Austin Police Department a racist department that targets black and brown people, and this week he is asking the same department to increase patrols around his home,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what political party they belong to. If they ask us for help, we will give it to them.
“The last thing we want is for something to happen to them. My problem with this and the problem that most of my members will have is that this guy, you know, it’s the whole squad, right?
“It’s all like, ‘We hate cops, we hate cops, we hate cops. Oh please help us now.” He’s an architect. He is a pioneer in protecting police officers in Austin. He started all this nonsense.”
Casar’s office said it “does not comment on active safety issues related to the congressman.”
“Our office has not been in communication with the Austin Police Department on this matter as these matters are handled by the US Sergeant at Arms, who then works with the US Capitol Police and local law enforcement,” the spokesperson said.
His office highlighted a statement from House Sergeant at Arms William McFarland, which said: “The Sergeant at Arms takes the safety of Members of Congress very seriously.
“We ask the public and law enforcement not to comment on specific security measures or active cases as this exposes potential vulnerabilities.”
Although a spokesperson for the Austin Police Department confirmed that it was “aware of Representative Greg Casar’s request.”
The agency added that the force “follows the same protocol and assessment as for all requests.”
“Our agency takes all public safety issues seriously. Our priority is to create a safe and secure community where everyone can feel protected while maintaining the privacy of sensitive information,” the spokesperson said.