Tag Archives: Austin Police Department
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…
Thursday, September 10, 2020 by Jessi Devenyns
Police
Public Safety Commission considers a new vision for APD headquarters
A conversation on the future of the Austin Police Department headquarters is following on the heels of City Council’s reformulation of Austin’s police budget last month.On Sept. 9, the Public Safety Commission articulated a new vision for the current headquarters…
Thursday, September 3, 2020 by Andrew Weber
Police
Austin could ‘decouple’ victim services from APD. Here’s what that would look like.
Twenty years ago, trombones were echoing in Courtney Santana’s ears – trombones like the ones in Charlie Brown cartoons.There she was, crumpled on parking lot asphalt. Austin police officers were holding her two kids, including her 8-month-old son, who had…
Thursday, August 27, 2020 by Nina Hernandez
City Charter
Human Rights Commission calls for democratically elected police chief
On Monday, the Human Rights Commission agreed that City Council should change city ordinance to allow Austin to democratically elect its police chief.Under the proposal, which was put together by commissioners Nathan White, Kristian Caballero and Alicia Weigel, Austin voters…
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Police
Council to consider approving grants for APD safety projects
Thursday’s City Council meeting agenda has 10 items requesting approval of grant awards to the Austin Police Department for a variety of ongoing projects. While the grants support important community programs like mental health first response, sexual assault evidence testing…
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Public Safety
Integral Care set to address most mental health emergency calls without involving APD
Last week, City Council approved an additional $1.3 million for the Integral Care-EMCOT program next fiscal year, increasing the budget for the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team by about 75 percent. With those extra dollars, Integral Care, the mental health…
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Budget
Austin City Council proposes cutting police funding by a third. It could vote Wednesday.
City Council members are proposing cuts to the Austin Police Department budget totaling roughly $149 million, or 34 percent of the department’s current budget.Council members are scheduled to vote on the city’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year as early…
Wednesday, August 5, 2020 by Ryan Thornton
Budget
Council talks six-month delay for bulk of police budget reform
As City Council struggles to comprehend what it would mean to cut approximately $100 million from the Austin Police Department’s budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21, Council members are floating a temporary fix: approve half of the department’s budget during next…
Tuesday, July 28, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin police release video footage showing fatal shooting of Mike Ramos
Lee esta historia en español. Video footage released Monday of the shooting of Mike Ramos shows the 42-year-old pleading with Austin police officers to put their guns down, telling them he doesn’t have a weapon and that they are scaring…
Monday, July 27, 2020 by Nina Hernandez
Police
Report recommends major changes to 911 procedures
Last week, City Council’s Public Safety Committee heard a presentation on a report from AH Datalytics, paid for by the Austin Justice Coalition, assessing the Austin Police Department’s 911 calls for service. Overall, the report asserts that many of the calls…
Sunday, July 26, 2020 by Marisa Charpentier
Public Safety
Austin police release two people who fired handguns in deadly incident during protest
Both people who opened fire during an incident that led to the death of a man at a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin on Saturday night have been released after questioning. Both shooters reported themselves to police, according…
Tuesday, July 21, 2020 by Nina Hernandez
Budget
Public Safety budget discussion wrestles with demands to defund APD
Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo gave the Public Safety Committee a public safety budget overview at its meeting on Monday. Much of the discussion centered around the Austin Police Department budget. Community members and some City Council members have…
Friday, July 17, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin delays releasing video of protester injuries, saying it would affect investigation
The Austin Police Department says it will delay the release of body camera footage from officers who caused serious injuries to demonstrators during the first weekend of protests against police killings and systemic racism in Austin.“In consultation with the Travis…
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 by Chad Swiatecki
Police
Commission wants more detail and authority behind police oversight findings
The Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities has signed on to a resolution passed by the Human Rights Commission that asks the Austin Police Department to investigate all complaints recommended for investigation by the Office of Police Oversight.The committee voted…
Friday, July 10, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Public Safety
Police department inaugural gun violence report shows slight increase in violent offenses
In its inaugural quarterly gun violence report, the Austin Police Department has recorded a slight increase in major violent offenses involving guns compared to the same time last year.In the summer of 2019, APD released its initial gun crime report…
Thursday, July 2, 2020 by Nina Hernandez
Public Safety
Public Safety Committee to hear testimony on changes to police tactics
City Council’s newly revived Public Safety Committee convenes today at 2 p.m. to discuss the Austin Police Department’s General Orders and tactics. It’ll be a different kind of committee meeting: Rather than lead the discussion, committee members will listen to…
Monday, June 29, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Budget
What $100M from the APD budget looks like
In response to pressure from activists to defund the Austin Police Department, City Council unanimously approved a series of reforms to APD operations, including a resolution that asks for deep cuts to the public safety budget.The Austin Justice Coalition has…
Monday, June 29, 2020 by Audrey McGlinchy
Police
Austin police identify officers under investigation for injuring protesters during demonstrations
The Austin Police Department has named five officers it says may be responsible for seriously injuring people demonstrating during the first weekend of protests against systemic racism and police violence.The following officers have been put on paid administrative leave, as…
Wednesday, June 24, 2020 by Nina Hernandez
Police
City to give group auditing APD training materials more time
The next Austin Police Department cadet class is on hold indefinitely, City Manager Spencer Cronk reiterated Thursday during the Public Safety Committee meeting. The department will not proceed with the new cadet class, which it had hoped to begin in…
Monday, June 22, 2020 by Savana Dunning
Police
College Student Commission recommends reallocating $30M from APD budget to fund minority scholarships
The College Student Commission passed a recommendation Monday asking City Council to reallocate at least $30 million from the Austin Police Department budget to college scholarships for low-income and racial minority students in Austin.The recommendation calls for APD Chief Brian…
