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Public Safety
Third ambulance service gets OK from Council
Two ambulance companies that currently have franchises to provide nonemergency transfer services within the city of Austin told City Council Thursday that it would be a mistake to grant a franchise to a third company, but failed in their effort.…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • Mar 5, 2018
Police sue city over police monitor access
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, representing Ken Casaday, president of the Austin Police Association, sued the city of Austin on Tuesday, seeking to stop the police monitor from looking at internal affairs records or attending interviews relating to…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Feb 28, 2018
Review points the way for Central Health improvements
A recent study of Central Health’s services and performance for the Austin area has recommended that the agency take further steps to improve health care access for all residents – especially marginalized communities – as well as toward improving its…
Public Health • By Chad Swiatecki • Feb 21, 2018
Council reinstates some extra police pay
With only City Council Member Greg Casar dissenting, Council voted Thursday to reinstate some incentive pay for Austin police officers to the level that they received under their old contract. That contract expired at the end of December, after Council…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Feb 16, 2018
Airbus' protest at Commissioners Court crashes and burns
The Travis County Commissioners Court shot down a protest leveled by aircraft manufacturer Airbus over the county’s selection process for a new fleet of STAR Flight helicopters. A team of officials from the company’s helicopter division showed up to the…
Public Safety • By Caleb Pritchard • Feb 7, 2018
Police reform activists call for city-funded nonprofit for police complaints
Representatives of Austin’s police union said Monday that they’re eager to begin negotiations with the new city manager on a contract that can hopefully win approval from City Council. Ron DeLord, an attorney for the Austin Police Association, told members…
Police • By Jack Craver • Feb 6, 2018
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Council rejects first aid services contract
During Tuesday’s work session, City Council members expressed enough objections to a contract to hire an outside firm to provide medical services at the Austin Convention Center that city staff agreed to remove the item from today’s agenda. Council members…
Public Safety • By Jo Clifton • Feb 1, 2018
AFD aims to weigh in on developments sooner rather than later
The Austin Fire Department could soon start reviewing individual development plans much earlier in the process than it currently does. Fire Marshal Rob Vires told the Public Safety Commission at its Jan. 8 special called meeting about ongoing discussions to…
Fire • By Caleb Pritchard • Jan 19, 2018
APD makes final push to get body cameras on all patrol officers
By March, all Austin patrol officers will be wearing body cameras, according to estimates by the Austin Police Department. Currently, 658 body cameras are in use; another 200 will be added. “After that, we’ll be looking to (give them to…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 18, 2018
With labor dispute focused on police, Austin's EMS union feels overlooked
Austin police officers aren’t the only public safety personnel without an employment contract with the city. For the first time in nearly 10 years, emergency medical service employees are without a contract, too. Tony Marquardt, president of the Austin-Travis County…
EMS • By Nadia Hamdan • Jan 11, 2018
Most Austin police officers will soon have body cameras
It may not be long before every Austin police officer is wearing a body camera. Since October, the Austin Police Department has equipped officers at three of its four substations with body cameras, Assistant Police Chief Ely Reyes told the…
Police • By Jack Craver • Jan 9, 2018
Police decline further contract talks for now
The Austin Police Association on Tuesday resoundingly rejected the City Council’s request that it continue its current contract for a few months and return to the negotiating table. Groups that had urged Council to reject the new contract were apparently…
