EXCLUSIVE: The Austin Police Department is lowering minimum staffing requirements for its emergency communications division as it deals with "unprecedented vacancy rates," according to an internal message reviewed by Fox News Digital.
An Austin police commander told staff on Monday that the majority of telecommunications workers have been logging 20 to 36 hours of overtime per week, which is "unhealthy and unsafe" in such a high-stakes environment.
"Emergency Communications will assign mandatory overtime only when triggered by 'emergency' staffing levels, which is six (6) 911 Operators and ten (10) dispatchers per shift," the commander wrote.