Moody Center
Overpopulated Pool Problem
RECEIVED Tue., Aug. 15, 2023
Dear Editor,
On July 19, I witnessed the Austin police respond to a naked man in Barton Springs. The man had supposedly been inviting women to swim underwater to see his private parts. I am glad that the police did not harm the man, but I am distressed at the amount of manpower that was devoted to the event.
At least six uniformed policemen plus three EMS employees and three firemen assembled to remove the sunburnt and shivering man from the pool. The gradual assembly of the city-paid staff took about an hour, during which time there was a fair amount of leaning on a rail. Eventually an EMS or fireman entered the pool with a surfboard and a policeman entered the other end of the stairway, and they escorted the man out of the pool.
I am questioning why the city allows 12 employees to stand around for an hour when finally, a few of them enter the water and within minutes coax an unarmed man out of the water. We hear daily that the police force is understaffed. Given this fact, why did 12 employees stand around for an hour? How much did that cost? How many emergency calls were ignored during this time?
In the parking lot were five police cars, parked against traffic, as if they had entered the lot against traffic signs, creating a hazard for unsuspecting drivers.
It seems to me that the police could re-examine response habits to cut costs and spread limited staff more judiciously. It appears that the services I pay for could be used more efficiently.
On July 19, I witnessed the Austin police respond to a naked man in Barton Springs. The man had supposedly been inviting women to swim underwater to see his private parts. I am glad that the police did not harm the man, but I am distressed at the amount of manpower that was devoted to the event.
At least six uniformed policemen plus three EMS employees and three firemen assembled to remove the sunburnt and shivering man from the pool. The gradual assembly of the city-paid staff took about an hour, during which time there was a fair amount of leaning on a rail. Eventually an EMS or fireman entered the pool with a surfboard and a policeman entered the other end of the stairway, and they escorted the man out of the pool.
I am questioning why the city allows 12 employees to stand around for an hour when finally, a few of them enter the water and within minutes coax an unarmed man out of the water. We hear daily that the police force is understaffed. Given this fact, why did 12 employees stand around for an hour? How much did that cost? How many emergency calls were ignored during this time?
In the parking lot were five police cars, parked against traffic, as if they had entered the lot against traffic signs, creating a hazard for unsuspecting drivers.
It seems to me that the police could re-examine response habits to cut costs and spread limited staff more judiciously. It appears that the services I pay for could be used more efficiently.
Dr. Patricia Bobeck, taxpayer