Hard to believe this would ever have to be said.

The wolves are at our doors. This is how tyranny starts in our country.

From an Austin Police Officer after the Austin police budget was being
gutted today by their city council.

DEAR COMMUNITY:

WE HAVE SERVED WITH THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY FOR MANY YEARS. WE HAVE
MISSED ANNIVERSARIES, BIRTHDAYS, FUNERALS, SPORTS, AND MANY OTHER
THINGS SO WE COULD BE THERE FOR YOU. WHEN YOU CALLED, WE CAME. WHEN
YOU WERE BEING VICTIMIZED, WE STEPPED IN AND STOPPED IT. WHEN YOU WERE
ON YOUR LAST BREATH, WE GAVE YOU ANOTHER AND ANOTHER. AS MANY AS IT
TOOK TO KEEP YOU ALIVE. WE HELD YOUR CHILD AND LOVED ON THEM WHEN THEY
WERE SCARED. WE COMFORTED YOU WHEN YOUR LOVED ONES PASSED. WE PUT OUR
LIVES IN HARMS WAY WHEN THE WOLF CAME FOR YOU. WHEN YOU RAN FROM
GUNFIRE, WE RAN TOWARDS IT. WHEN YOU SAT TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR, WE HELD
YOUR HAND UNTIL THE RESCUE CREW COULD CUT YOU OUT. WE BOUGHT YOU LUNCH
WHEN OTHERS WALKED BY AND DID NOTHING. WE BROUGHT JUSTICE TO YOUR
FAMILY WHEN SOMEONE WAS TAKEN FROM YOU. WE GAVE YOU A VOICE WHEN YOU
HAD NONE. WE STEPPED IN WHEN YOU COULDN’T PROTECT YOURSELF. WE SAVED
YOUR SON’S, DAUGHTER’S, HUSBAND’S, AUNT’S, BROTHER’S, AND SISTER’S.

THE DAY CAME WHEN WE NEEDED YOUR HELP, BUT YOU NEVER SHOWED. WHEN WE
ASKED YOU TO STAND UP AND GIVE US A VOICE, YOU REMAINED SILENT. WHEN
WE WERE AT OUR LOWEST, YOU OFFERED NO HELP. WHEN WE WERE BEING
ATTACKED, YOU WATCHED FROM AFAR. WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR YOU TO FIGHT
FOR US, YOU STAYED HOME AND KEPT SILENT. (TO THOSE WHO DIDN’T, THANK YOU.)

THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ALMOST COMPLETELY DEFUNDED.
THERE IS BARELY ENOUGH TO PAY FOR OUR SALARY, MEDICAL CARE, AND
RETIREMENT. NOW, WHEN THE WOLF PUTS A BOMB AT YOUR DOORSTEP, WE
WON’T BE THERE. WHEN A DRUNK DRIVER KILLS YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, WE
WON’T BE THERE. WHEN YOUR FAMILY MEMBER IS DROWNING AT THE LAKE, WE
WON’T BE THERE. WHEN SOMEONE CRASHES INTO YOUR CAR, WE WON’T BE
THERE. WHEN GANGS TAKE OVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WE WON’T BE THERE.
WHEN YOU’RE ASSAULTED ON ONE OF THE MANY TRAILS, WE WON’T BE
THERE. WHEN YOU’RE CHILD IS LOST, WE WON’T BE THERE TO FIND THEM.

WE WON’T BE THERE BECAUSE YOUR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL HAS SHUT DOWN
ALMOST EVERY UNIT NEEDED TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND BE THERE FOR YOU. THEY
TOOK EVERYTHING FROM YOU WHILE YOU SAT IN SILENCE. THEY DID IT FOR
THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN AND AGENDA. THEY WON’T BE THERE FOR YOU AND
MADE SURE WE COULDN’T EITHER.

YOUR GUARDIAN (NO MORE),
AN AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER