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Public Safety
City releases police body camera solicitation
The Austin Police Department moved closer to kicking off its highly anticipated body camera pilot program on Monday, when the city quietly released a solicitation for contract bids online. The contracts would be for the “purchase, implementation, and support” of…
Police • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 10, 2015
Fire department touts improved flood performance
Larry Jantzen, chief of special operations with the Austin Fire Department, told members of the Public Safety Commission on Monday that the department was able to respond more quickly and effectively to the Oct. 30 floods because of improvements it…
Fire • By Jack Craver • Dec 10, 2015
Austin police talk 'open carry' at safety commission
The Austin Police Department expects to be fielding more gun-related 911 calls after Texas’ recently passed open carry law takes effect in January. The new law allows licensed gun owners to have their weapons visibly holstered in public, but many…
Public Safety • By Jack Craver • Dec 8, 2015
County applies for police body camera grant
The Travis County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to approve an application submitted by the Sheriff’s Office for a new statewide police body camera grant for a county body camera pilot program. The measure passed on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner…
Public Safety • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 2, 2015
APD outlines body camera policy in forum
Amid calls for increased scrutiny of law enforcement across the nation, City Council has decided that the city should purchase body cameras for the Austin Police Department in the coming months. What that rollout and the policies that govern it…
Public Safety • By Tyler Whitson • Dec 1, 2015
Police monitor talks body cameras on task force
As the Austin Police Department prepares to roll out a body camera pilot program in the coming months, city Police Monitor Margo Frasier and law enforcement experts from across the nation are tackling the ethical and legal questions that come…
Public Safety • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 30, 2015
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City may hire temp officers for SXSW season
As South by Southwest and the whirlwind of events that surround it loom large on the horizon, the city and the Austin Police Association are discussing ways to cover the festival season without pulling many officers away from their duties.…
Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 24, 2015
Questions pile up as Travis County tackles flood relief
Travis County has more questions than answers more than two weeks after heavy floods caused widespread damage in Central Texas. At its regular Tuesday voting session, the Commissioners Court charged staff with investigating several issues raised by affected residents who…
Public Safety • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 18, 2015
Health committee discusses new spending plans
Before adopting the city’s proposed budget in September, City Council added more than $6.5 million in spending for health, human services, social services and quality of life programs. With the new fiscal year in full swing, Shannon Jones, director of…
Public Health • By Tyler Whitson • Nov 3, 2015
Police association proposes SXSW funding fix
Although it is an economic driver for the city, South by Southwest imposes significant demands on the Austin Police Department, which pulls many of its personnel away from normal duties to cover the event every year. The Austin Police Association…
Music & Entertainment • By Tyler Whitson • Oct 27, 2015
Sobriety center plans advance through the county
Travis County Commissioners have taken another big step toward the creation of a sobriety center that would serve as an alternative to jail for the region’s most temerarious tipplers. During their regular voting session on Tuesday, the commissioners directed the…
Public Safety • By Caleb Pritchard • Oct 14, 2015
AISD to begin video ticketing
During a quick approval of Monday’s consent agenda, the Austin Independent School District board of trustees unanimously OK’d the use of camera-based ticketing to help curb drivers’ illegal passing of stopped school buses. AISD entered into a one-year renewable contract…
