BRYAN PRESTON: Austin Defunded Its Police. Texas Steps Up to Defend Them. “Acevedo is merely previewing for Austin what’s already happening in Seattle, which has also defunded police and abandoned its first duty, public safety. The rioters didn’t go away there, but businesses are starting to. Austin has put itself on track to become Portland, where unchecked rioters beat up random citizens and attack police with impunity.”