Tag Archives: Austin Police Department
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Activists say officers allege retaliation for speaking to investigators in racism probe of APD
Activists and a City Council member say they’ve heard claims of possible obstruction in the investigation into alleged racism and homophobia among the highest ranks of the Austin Police Department.“It seems that people are not able to wholeheartedly and openly…
Friday, January 10, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
APD survey shows police officers are proud but frustrated
As the Public Safety Commission came back to a new year on Jan. 6, members began with a lengthy discussion about the state of the Austin police force.After receiving a presentation from the department highlighting the personal, professional and emotional…
Friday, December 6, 2019 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin orders sweeping probe of alleged racism, bigotry among police, including social media audit
The city of Austin will conduct a department-wide investigation of discrimination in the Austin Police Department, following accusations of racism and homophobia among the highest ranks.“There comes a time in everybody’s existence to have to do something really hard because…
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Public Safety Commission pushes for an independent investigation into ‘endemic’ racism and homophobia in APD
Last month, City Manager Spencer Cronk announced that attorney Lisa Tatum would investigate allegations of racism among the executive staff of the Austin Police Department. The investigation follows complaints that APD Assistant Chief Justin Newsom used the N-word to refer…
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Public Safety
APD updates the Public Safety Commission after a day of homeless camp cleanups
Questions surrounding the city’s revised camping, sitting and resting ordinances were brought to the public’s attention Monday as the state stepped in for cleanup operations and the city of Austin simultaneously conducted an operation to enforce its camping ban outside…
Wednesday, October 9, 2019 by Nadia Hamdan
Police
Austin’s review of how police handle sexual assaults won’t be finished until 2022
An independent review of how Austin police investigate sexual assault cases won’t be completed until February 2022, the Austin Public Safety Commission said.Austin City Council agreed last month to pay up to $800,000 to the Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive Research…
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Public Safety Commission talks homelessness with APD
Last week brought a new level of scrutiny to the way the city polices individuals experiencing homelessness. The governor declared he would “unleash” state resources if Austin doesn’t address its homelessness issues by Nov. 1. Police Chief Brian Manley suggested…
Friday, September 27, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Police
Report faults APD’s handling of information
The Austin Police Department has failed to comply with the federal policy relating to access to criminal justice information maintained by the FBI, according to a special report from the Office of the City Auditor.Assistant City Auditor Andrew Keegan briefly…
Tuesday, September 10, 2019 by Jo Clifton
City Hall
Auditors report on community policing efforts
The Austin Police Department has made considerable progress in implementing recommendations from the 2016 Matrix Consulting Group study on community policing, according to an audit update from the city auditor’s office recently provided to the mayor and City Council.The report…
Thursday, September 5, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Budget
Council looks at police, fire department budgets
At Council’s final budget work session on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo told Council members he had learned that the city would have about $2.4 million more than anticipated when staff prepared the original budget of $4.2…
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 by Ryan Thornton
Public Safety
Community leverages conundrum over hemp to advocate for marijuana decriminalization
Despite the technical difficulty of distinguishing marijuana from legal industrial hemp, the Austin Police Department told the City Council Judicial Committee on Tuesday that the city cannot afford to let the possession and sale of marijuana go unchecked.However, several members…
Thursday, August 29, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Budget
Human Rights Commission calls for $1.75M for more mental health emergency responders
The Human Rights Commission has joined the city’s Public Safety Commission in recommending that City Council commit funds in the next budget to add staff for first responders dealing with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.The rights commission unanimously approved…
Wednesday, August 28, 2019 by Jo Clifton
Police
Austin police pension fund facing trouble
The Austin Police Department’s retirement system is in considerable trouble, with actuaries predicting that the fund will run out of money within 50 years unless the city and the officers who are members of the system reach an agreement to…
Monday, August 26, 2019 by Nadia Hamdan
Public Safety
The Provability Gap: Why sexual assault cases are so hard to prosecute in Austin
Austin had the highest number of rapes reported in large Texas cities in 2017. The rate of reported rapes that year was also nearly 40 percent higher than U.S. cities of similar size.The Travis County district attorney says law enforcement…
Monday, August 12, 2019 by Austin Monitor
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Have some pride
Build that fence… The Austin Music Commission has asked the city to send a representative to its September meeting to update the group on work to address the recent rash of shootings and violence in the area around Red River…
Thursday, August 8, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Public Safety Commission recommends increased funding for mental health first responder program
The Austin Police Department is working to revamp its tactics when handling calls related to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Fulfilling that goal starts with training officers so they are equipped to help in these tense situations.Public Safety Commissioner…
Wednesday, July 24, 2019 by Andrew Weber
Austin
Packed homelessness forum calls for more shelters, support: ‘We are dealing with human beings here’
As the city adjusts to new rules for panhandling, camping or sitting or lying in public, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted a forum Tuesday to discuss the road ahead for dealing with homelessness and plans to expand emergency shelter access…
Wednesday, June 26, 2019 by Andrew Weber
Police
City audit says Austin police could be better about keeping track of body camera footage
The Austin Police Department is still working out the kinks in its body camera program, according to a new city audit.The report released today by the city auditor’s office looked at footage from 151 body cam videos from Aug. 1,…
Tuesday, June 25, 2019 by Andrew Weber
Police
Austin police report shows a slight uptick in property crimes in 2018
A new report released Monday from the Austin Police Department shows crime overall increased in 2018, with property crimes up 9 percent. Violent crimes dropped slightly, however.The report also acknowledges controversy surrounding the way APD handles sexual assault cases, after…
Thursday, May 9, 2019 by DaLyah Jones
City Hall
After 13-year-old’s arrest, black advocates demand library policies that create safe spaces for all
Teacher Njera Keith was entering the Carver Branch of Austin Public Library with a 6-year-old student when they saw a police officer patting down 13-year-old LaTashia Milligam. The teenager was handcuffed and had no shoes on.Keith said her young student…
