Central Texas Public Safety Commission

The Central Texas Public Safety Commission was established in 1997
to support Central Texas first responders
and promote public safety planning.

About

Founded in 1997, the Greater Austin Crime Commission was established to support the first responders of the City of Austin and promote public safety planning.  Now, after decades of growth and transformation throughout Austin and the surrounding communities, the Commission seeks to broaden its purpose and vocation to support the public safety, justice, and security of the entire Central Texas region. Just as the Commission brought together community leaders over 25 years ago with a common purpose, the re-dedicated Central Texas Public Safety Commission seeks to connect Central Texas governments, citizens, and community organizations with the common goal of promoting public safety, engagement, and the striving for the common good.  Our goal is to support and enhance the efforts of Central Texas emergency medical responders, firefighters, police officers, and all first responders as we all aim towards creating safer communities throughout Central Texas. 

Mission

The mission of the Central Texas Public Safety Commission is to promote the public safety of the region by working with all community stakeholders – local governments, public safety agencies, emergency responders, community organizations, and citizens – to create policies and initiatives that build trust, promote justice, and reduce crime.  We advocate for the region’s emergency medical responders, firefighters, police officers, and public safety officers as well as the citizens they serve.

Vision

 The Central Texas Public Safety Commission envisions a future where all residents of the Central Texas area can live, work, and thrive in a safe and secure environment. We strive to build a regional community where safety emergencies are addressed quickly, crime is minimized, justice is upheld, and the well-being of every individual is protected. 

Core Values 

1.            Safety and Security: We prioritize the safety and security of all community members and aim to create an environment where everyone feels protected from crime and victimization.

2.            Collaboration and Partnership: We believe in the power of collaboration and actively seek partnerships with public safety agencies, community organizations, and individuals to address safety-related challenges collectively.               

3.            Transparency and Accountability: We operate with transparency, maintaining accountability to the community, stakeholders, and the public, ensuring that our actions and decisions are guided by ethical principles.

4.            Advocacy and Policy Reform: We actively engage in advocating for effective public safety policies. We promote innovative approaches to crime prevention and reduction and emergency responsiveness.

5.            Crime Prevention: We are committed to promoting crime prevention by promoting community engagement, education, and the implementation of evidence-based strategies.

6.            Justice and Fairness: We advocate for a fair and equitable criminal justice system that upholds the principles of justice, respects the rights of all individuals, and addresses the underlying causes of crime.

7.            Empowerment and Engagement: We strive to empower community members by providing resources, education, and opportunities for engagement, recognizing that active involvement is crucial to building safer neighborhoods.

8.            Proactivity: We take a proactive approach to crime prevention and emergency responsiveness by staying ahead of emerging trends, identifying potential risks, and recommending strategic measures to mitigate them.

10.          Equity: We are committed to promoting fairness, inclusivity, and equal access to safety and justice for all members of the community, regardless of background or circumstances.

11.          Innovation: We embrace innovation and technology as catalysts for advancing public safety, constantly seeking new approaches, solutions, and best practices to address evolving challenges in our community.

 

Key Objectives and Methods

 1.            Community Engagement and Programming:

  • Cultivate community involvement and participation in public safety programs and neighborhood cooperation organizations.
  • Support collaborative initiatives and partnerships between community organizations, public safety agencies, businesses, and citizens.
  • Engage the community via philanthropic and educational initiatives with distribution through digital, social, and print media and community programming.
  • Assess and elevate the level of public awareness and support for advocated policies through surveys and informational campaigns.

2.            Advocacy for Effective Policies:

  • Engage with policymakers and legislators, providing evidence-based data to inform better approaches and methods to public safety policy.
  • Measure the impact of advocated policies on crime rates, emergency responsiveness, equitable justice, and community safety.
  • Raise awareness within the business and activist communities of Central Texas about public safety issues and goals and drive cooperation in pursuit of those goals.
  1. Emergency Responsiveness:
    • Advocate for the procurement of necessary resources needed by emergency responders within the Central Texas region including fire departments, emergency medical departments, and all law enforcement agencies.
  2. Crime Reduction:
  • Promote the effective and efficient public safety of the Central Texas Region
  • Work with and in support of public safety agencies including law enforcement and first responders at the City, County, and State levels.
  • Measure the overall crime rate and track its trend over time, categorizing data to provide the most significance for Central Texas residents.

5.            Data-Driven Approach:

  • Utilize technologically based data collection systems to identify crime and emergency patterns and service delivery.
  • Monitor the availability and accessibility of safety data and statistics to the public, to policy makers, and promote transparency and accountability.