Tag Archives: Austin Police Department
Wednesday, December 30, 2020 by Elizabeth Pagano
Austin
2020: Highlights (and lowlights) of an unforgettable year
It’s not likely that anyone who lived through it will soon forget the year 2020. It’s possible, however, that one might forget the details of local news stories from the year. For that, we offer this review of the year…
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Police
Abbott plots DPS takeover of APD
Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Twitter Monday that he had received draft language to seize Austin’s Police Department and put it under the control of the Texas Department of Public Safety “just in time for Christmas.” The Austin Police Association,…
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 by Jo Clifton
Police
Adler, Pool voice support for cadet class this spring
With Austin police officers either retiring or simply quitting the force in record numbers this year, Mayor Steve Adler told his colleagues at Tuesday’s City Council work session that he really wants to have a cadet class this spring. Council…
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Police
Police department sees trend in violent crime uptick
Breaking from typical practice, the Austin Police Department presented the Public Safety Commission with a monthly crime report for the month of October as part of its routine quarterly update on Monday afternoon. While department representatives said the crime report…
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Police
Another demonstrator sues APD after she says she was shot in the head with ‘less-lethal’ ammunition
Another demonstrator has filed a federal lawsuit against the Austin Police Department and an unidentified police officer over the use of so-called less-lethal rounds. Arianna Chavez filed a complaint in federal court last week, alleging the officer used excessive force…
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 by Victoria May
Police
Police department makes an effort to reach out to Austin’s deaf community
The Austin Police Department is taking special measures to make sure its policies and procedures do not disproportionately affect community members with hearing loss. At Sunday’s Special Meeting of the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, Officer Scott Marler met…
Monday, November 23, 2020 by Miriam E Jewell
Public Safety
City departments team up to fight human trafficking
Local officials continue to emphasize that human trafficking has no place in Austin, where the crime is officially recognized by the city as a “human rights concern impacting Austin residents, businesses and communities.” In a recent memorandum, the city laid…
Thursday, November 19, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Public Safety
City overlooks police overtime dollars
When City Council cut $21.5 million from the Austin Police Department budget in August, it also provided $3.174 million that could be used for overtime as the department adjusted to its budgetary constraints. The dollars were intended to buy time…
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Police
Report finds racial bias in 2019 traffic stops
The Office of Police Oversight, the Equity Office and the Office of Innovation released a joint report Monday determining that racial bias continues to influence outcomes in police traffic stops. The report, which analyzed local traffic stop data from 2019,…
Friday, November 13, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
City Council
Austin OKs million-dollar contract to audit police department
The city of Austin has agreed to pay a New York City-based consultant up to $1.3 million to investigate racism and bigotry in the Austin Police Department, including looking into materials used to train new officers and reviewing instances where…
Thursday, November 12, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Courts
Another protester files suit over APD’s use of ‘less-lethal’ rounds. That’s the second this week.
The Austin Police Department is facing yet another lawsuit over its use of less-lethal rounds during protests this summer. A complaint filed on behalf of Steven Arawn accuses an unidentified officer of excessive force for using a so-called beanbag round…
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Courts
City faces another lawsuit over police using ‘less lethal’ round during protests
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday argues an Austin police officer used excessive force when he shot a protester with a “less lethal” round in May, irreparably damaging the man’s eyesight. The suit is the latest against the city over the…
Monday, November 2, 2020 by Tara Phipps
Police
Community Police Review Commission convenes
Austin’s new Community Police Review Commission kicked off its inaugural meeting the first week of October, setting guidelines for its activities and discussing how it can help city officials develop more transparent and effective public safety processes. The commission, which will…
Friday, October 30, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Anticipating election protests, Council members ask Austin police how they plan to avoid injuries
Four City Council members sent a letter Thursday to the chief of police asking him to explain how he plans to keep protesters safe during anticipated demonstrations following the results of the presidential election next week. “As we’re sure you…
Friday, October 30, 2020 by Miriam E Jewell
Austin
New collective continues the fight to dismantle systemic racism
Mayor Steve Adler and a coalition of community activists launched a new nonprofit organization earlier this month, creating an entity to succeed the Mayor’s Task Force on Institutional Racism and Systemic Inequities and bring many of its 278 recommendations to…
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Police
Austin protester sues officer for shooting him in the face with ‘less-lethal’ round
An Austinite who was shot by a police officer with a so-called less-lethal shotgun round during a protest this summer is suing the officer and the Austin Police Department in federal court. A federal civil rights lawsuit filed Tuesday on…
Friday, October 16, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Police
Mike Ramos’ mother asks Austin police chief whether he’ll fire officer who killed her son
The mother of Mike Ramos, a Black and Latino man who was shot and killed by an Austin police officer in April, is calling on the department to act on investigations into the officer. At a press conference Wednesday, Brenda…
Thursday, October 8, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin’s DNA lab has had issues for years. A new report outlines how it could be run in the future.
Poor supervision and untrained staff have long plagued the Austin Police Department’s DNA crime lab, forcing it to close briefly in 2016 and then be overseen by the state. So, what will a future lab look like? Consultants hired by…
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Police
Assistant chief talks APD headquarters
The movement for racial justice combined with the Covid-19 pandemic may be reshaping the future of the Austin Police Department and the use of the department’s headquarters at 715 E. Eighth St. While the conversation about reimagining the headquarters grew…
Thursday, September 24, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Public Safety
Public Safety Committee examines the use of police time, asks for more data
As the city of Austin looks into redefining the duties of its police department, staffers are reaching out to community members to hear feedback about what the next iteration of the Austin Police Department could look like. Simultaneously, city staff are…
