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Public Safety
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…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Dec 20, 2017
Advocates urge more assistance for sexual assault victims
A backlog of evidence going back to the 1990s is not the only major challenge the Austin Police Department has faced in prosecuting sex crimes and helping survivors of sexual assault heal. Advocates for survivors have also said the sex…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 19, 2017
By outsourcing, APD has made major progress on sex assault kit backlog
The Austin Police Department’s embarrassing backlog of sexual assault kits will hopefully soon be a thing of the past. APD told members of the Public Safety Commission Monday that there are 856 kits from the backlog left to be analyzed,…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 12, 2017
Public Safety Commission endorses police union contract
Rejecting the pleas of police accountability activists, the Public Safety Commission voted Monday night to recommend the approval of the proposed new union contract between the city of Austin and the Austin Police Association. Both Police Chief Brian Manley and…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 5, 2017
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Commission fails to endorse police contract
Citing a lack of information, the Public Safety Commission on Monday declined to endorse the union contract recently hammered out between the Austin Police Association and city labor negotiators. In addition to concerns expressed by some commissioners about shortcomings of…
Police • By Jack Craver • Nov 7, 2017
City, EMS labor negotiations likely to continue
Even though its negotiating team declared an impasse with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association last week, City Council appears prepared to direct staff to resume negotiations, but not immediately. Council members Ann Kitchen, Delia Garza, Leslie Pool…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • Nov 7, 2017
As talks end, EMS union, city at stalemate
Unlike the unions for police officers and firefighters, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association could not reach an agreement with city of Austin management on Monday. Employees will continue to work under civil service rules, but there is…
EMS • By Jo Clifton • Nov 2, 2017
Police contract with city heads to vote
If an agreement finalized between the city and the Austin Police Association on Tuesday is adopted, the Office of the Police Monitor will have more power to investigate allegations of police misconduct and Austin police will get a 9.5 percent…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Oct 25, 2017
New rules for Central Health don't satisfy critics
The Travis County Commissioners Court has concluded another chapter in the extended controversy over Central Health, but one of the hospital district’s lead critics says he is not ready to quit. On Tuesday, the court amended the district’s financial policy…
Public Health • By Caleb Pritchard • Oct 18, 2017
Travis County sheriff responds to community outcry after 'sanctuary' policy reversal
At a town hall meeting on Monday organized by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez faced a crowd of immigrant rights advocates, service providers and undocumented community members, many of whom expressed disbelief at her Sept.…
