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Tag Archives: Austin Police Department

No clear path forward for medical marijuana use by public safety employees

Now that medical marijuana is legal in Texas, will Austin allow its first responders to use it? A Monday afternoon briefing at City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting showed that the hurdle, for once, does not come from the state…

City office working to prevent violence

Austin is seeking strategies to prevent gun violence, help at-risk young people avoid the pitfalls associated with violence, and assist victims of trauma. It’s all the job of the Office of Violence Prevention, which is a part of Austin Public…

Civil rights office could take over enforcement of city's ADA regulations

The city may fold enforcement of all concerns related to the Americans with Disabilities Act into the Office of Civil Rights, a change that would take those responsibilities away from human resources staff. A resolution was passed unanimously at this month’s…

Another demonstrator is suing Austin and an APD officer after being shot with a beanbag round

Austin is being sued in civil court by another demonstrator who was struck by so-called “less-lethal” rounds during protests over police violence and racial justice in 2020. On Tuesday, Bomani Barton filed a civil suit against the city and the…

Commission recommends moving APD forensics lab

With little fanfare, Austin’s Public Safety Commission voted unanimously Monday to ask City Council to move the Forensic Science Bureau out of the Austin Police Department, making it independent both in structure and budget. Commissioners signaled last month that they…

Austin OKs $2.95 million settlement for Brad Levi Ayala, teen injured by police at 2020 protests

Austin City Council agreed to pay Brad Levi Ayala $2.95 million for injuries suffered after being shot by an APD officer on May 30, 2020. Ayala, who was 16 at the time, suffered brain trauma as a result of the…

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Council adopts public safety initiative to address vacancy concerns

With staffing challenges at a critical juncture in each of Austin’s three public safety departments, City Council has directed the city manager to build a comprehensive plan to address the shortages. The ATX Public Safety Vacancy Staffing Plan lays out…

Here's what we know about APD officers facing charges for using beanbag rounds in 2020 protests

Nineteen Austin police officers face criminal charges for the use of so-called “less lethal” ammunition on demonstrators during racial justice protests in 2020. Police use of the lead-pellet bags, which were fired from shotguns, severely injured protesters, at least 19…

DA says grand jury indicting 'multiple' Austin police officers for injuries during 2020 protests

A Travis County grand jury is expected to indict “multiple” Austin police officers accused of injuring people during the 2020 protests following the killing of George Floyd. In announcing the indictments, Travis County District Attorney José Garza said “multiple indictments…

Police academy shows progress in adopting reforms

With a new cadet class set to begin in late March, the Austin Police Department and consultants are fine-tuning a curriculum that more closely aligns with the city’s reimagined public safety process. APD Chief Joseph Chacon updated City Council in…

City seeks to separate forensics lab from APD while complying with state law

It’s never too soon to talk about the 2023 city budget, especially as it relates to the Austin Police Department and the divisions that were separated out from under APD before the state Legislature penalized cities for thinking outside the…

Austin spends nearly $1 million to settle lawsuits alleging it mishandled sexual assault cases

The city of Austin is settling two lawsuits alleging it violated the rights of sexual assault victims by mishandling the investigations. The city’s settlement amounts to $825,000, which will be split among 15 plaintiffs, and $50,000 for the plaintiffs’ lawyers.…

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