Tag Archives: Austin Police Department
Thursday, November 29, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Office of the Police Monitor building a police oversight agency
For 16 years, the Office of the Police Monitor has been available for citizens and city staff to issue complaints against law enforcement. However, it appears not many Austinites take advantage of its services.Police Monitor Farah Muscadin found that of…
Friday, November 16, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Police
Council approves labor contract with police after a year without one
Officers with the Austin Police Department are getting a new labor contract.After nearly a year of negotiations, City Council members unanimously approved a four-year and $44.6 million contract between the city and the local police union. Police reform activists celebrated…
Wednesday, October 3, 2018 by Andrew Weber
Austin
Austin reconsiders homelessness ordinances as Houston laws are challenged in court
It’s a new fiscal year for the city of Austin, and one of the myriad items on City Council agendas over the next year will be an overhaul of ordinances relating to homelessness. That won’t be easy, as federal courts…
Tuesday, October 2, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Public Safety
Low morale in Austin’s public safety departments requires attention
The Public Safety Commission heard a variety of concerns at its Oct. 1 meeting in regards to the chronic low morale that public safety officers are experiencing within their respective departments.“It is pretty unanimous the officers are really getting tired…
Thursday, September 27, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Police
APD to make changes in mental health cases
As a result of Austin Police Department policies, “people experiencing a mental health crisis in Austin may be at higher risk of having a negative police interaction than people in a city that more closely aligns with best practices,” according…
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Office of the Police Monitor looks to revamp complaint process
According to a recent study by the Office of the Police Monitor, for many in Austin, being seen is being heard.At the Sept. 4 special called meeting of the Public Safety Commission, Police Monitor Farah Muscadin explained that many people…
Wednesday, August 29, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
APD to soon use drones to map fatal car crashes
Drones are multipurpose: They can deliver pizzas and tally seals. Drones can fight wildfires and make aerial videos that garner pretty impressive watch counts on YouTube.Drones can also map fatal car crashes, which is why the Austin Police Department recently…
Wednesday, August 22, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Police
Police union contract includes surprises
The union representing police officers has presented the city with a proposed contract, as well as a study by Angelou Economics challenging the city’s well-worn assertion that Austin officers are paid more than their cohorts in other Texas cities.In addition,…
Friday, August 17, 2018 by Jack Craver
Austin
City budget boosts spending for homelessness services
The new city manager and City Council agree: The city needs more money to address the homelessness situation.The proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget submitted by City Manager Spencer Cronk includes $3.1 million in new spending on homelessness-related services. That’s on…
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Police
Traffic law enforcement still a not topic
Even though traffic law enforcement and street safety is a top priority for the Austin Police Department, the majority of officers have little time to devote to such enforcement, given their other priorities, such as responding to citizens’ calls and…
Tuesday, August 14, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Citizen Review Panel audit brings up questions of document security
After 17 years of evaluation of the Austin Police Department by the Citizen Review Panel, not much happened. That is the conclusion that the Office of the City Auditor presented at the Aug. 6 meeting of the Public Safety Commission:…
Monday, July 9, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
APD continues to push toward community-focused policing
Since the Austin Police Department made its switch to a more community-oriented focus last year, it has continued to plow forward in its efforts to reorient its policies and position APD more as a force for the people.In a presentation to…
Wednesday, June 27, 2018 by Syeda Hasan
Police
Police and community groups join to explore how to improve oversight of APD
Austin’s system of police oversight may be more effective than others at promoting long-term change, but there’s still skepticism about the agency, according to a new report.The report from the Office of the Police Monitor notes that agencies like Austin’s…
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 by Jo Clifton
City Hall
Committee wants more responses from chief
The City Council Audit and Finance Committee accepted an audit from the Office of the City Auditor Monday that faulted the city’s processes in dealing with recommendations from the Citizen Review Panel to the chief of police. All the members…
Friday, June 22, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Police
Audit: Citizen oversight of APD flawed
Although the city’s Citizen Review Panel drafted numerous memos to the chief of police in an attempt to bring about change at the Austin Police Department, its efforts “did not create substantive change” within APD, according to a draft audit…
Monday, June 18, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Police
Divided Council rejects more pay for police
With only five members voting in favor of the motion, City Council rejected reinstatement of extra pay for certain police officers Thursday night, dashing the hopes of officers who work night shifts, for example. Passage of any ordinance requires six…
Friday, June 15, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Council confirms Manley as new police chief
City Council unanimously confirmed Brian Manley as the Austin Police Department’s new chief Thursday. Manley has served in an interim role since former Police Chief Art Acevedo left to head up Houston’s police department in 2016.Manley thanked those at City…
Monday, June 11, 2018 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Soccer games
Bound for Cow Town?… Another new wrinkle in Austin’s (never-ending?) professional soccer saga developed slowly last week after ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman opined, during a segment on Sacramento recently losing out on a Major League Soccer expansion bid, that…
Friday, May 18, 2018 by Audrey McGlinchy
Transportation
When roads are built to prioritize cars, pedestrians are often faulted for getting hit
Part 3 of a three-part seriesA driver hit and killed Judy Romano’s son, Barry Friedman, while he was walking in Austin two years ago.According to the police report, Friedman tried to cross East Parmer Lane just before 6 a.m. on…
Wednesday, May 9, 2018 by Jack Craver
Police
Council members: APD should not be allowed to sell guns
In 2016, City Council approved a contract that allowed the Austin Police Department to trade more than 1,700 handguns to an arms dealer as part of a deal to acquire new weapons for police officers.Council Member Alison Alter doesn’t think…
