Tag Archives: Public Safety Commission
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 by Sommer Brugal
Public Safety
Commission votes to expand Injury Prevention Program
In an effort to support the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Service’s efforts to reduce preventable injuries, the Public Safety Commission passed a motion to fund and expand the county’s Injury Prevention Program at its May 7 meeting.Lisa Sepulveda, Austin-Travis County…
Friday, April 6, 2018 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
Public Safety Commission: Who polices the police?
Last month, members of the Public Safety Commission voiced concerns about the lack of consistent rules or guidelines on investigating senior members of the police, fire and emergency medical services departments for harassment or discrimination.On Monday, a representative of the…
Tuesday, April 3, 2018 by Jack Craver
Police
Will Manley be made police chief? City manager remains mum
In spite of the praise he has received from city leaders for his response to the Austin bombings, Interim Police Chief Brian Manley is not necessarily a shoo-in to be the next permanent police chief.City Manager Spencer Cronk is still…
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
What happens when top public safety officials are accused of harassment?
Members of the Public Safety Commission expressed concern and befuddlement over policies that the Police, Fire and EMS departments rely on to hold their top officials accountable for harassment.“It doesn’t make sense to me that the policies are so different…
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 by Jack Craver
Roads
Transportation Department defends ‘speed cushions’
Transportation Director Robert Spillar showed up at a meeting of the Public Safety Commission on Monday to defend “speed cushions,” the traffic-calming devices that have infuriated motorists across the city, most notably in a Northwest Austin neighborhood that successfully campaigned…
Monday, February 12, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Reporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: We’ve made haranguements
Save Our Strings… Could the city be moving toward declaring musicians as an endangered species? Not yet, but at last week’s meeting of the Austin Music Commission there was a good deal of talk about declaring the city’s music culture…
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 by Jack Craver
Police
Police reform activists call for city-funded nonprofit for police complaints
Representatives of Austin’s police union said Monday that they’re eager to begin negotiations with the new city manager on a contract that can hopefully win approval from City Council.Ron DeLord, an attorney for the Austin Police Association, told members of…
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 by Jack Craver
Police
Most Austin police officers will soon have body cameras
It may not be long before every Austin police officer is wearing a body camera.Since October, the Austin Police Department has equipped officers at three of its four substations with body cameras, Assistant Police Chief Ely Reyes told the Public…
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 by Jack Craver
Police
Advocates urge more assistance for sexual assault victims
A backlog of evidence going back to the 1990s is not the only major challenge the Austin Police Department has faced in prosecuting sex crimes and helping survivors of sexual assault heal. Advocates for survivors have also said the sex…
Tuesday, December 12, 2017 by Jack Craver
Police
By outsourcing, APD has made major progress on sex assault kit backlog
The Austin Police Department’s embarrassing backlog of sexual assault kits will hopefully soon be a thing of the past.APD told members of the Public Safety Commission Monday that there are 856 kits from the backlog left to be analyzed, down…
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 by Jack Craver
Police
Commission fails to endorse police contract
Citing a lack of information, the Public Safety Commission on Monday declined to endorse the union contract recently hammered out between the Austin Police Association and city labor negotiators.In addition to concerns expressed by some commissioners about shortcomings of the…
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 by Caleb Pritchard
Public Safety
Public Safety Commission recommends lights-out for late-night curfew
The Public Safety Commission unanimously supported a recommendation on Tuesday night to end the late-night curfew currently enforced against Austin’s youngsters.The proposal, brought forward by Commissioner Daniela Nuñez, drew support from Austin’s interim police chief, Brian Manley, who explained that…
Tuesday, August 8, 2017 by Nina Hernandez
Public Safety
Public Safety Commission hears update on Austin’s homeless
Representatives from the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) and the Austin Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) briefed the Public Safety Commission Monday night on the state of the city’s homeless population.“I think in Austin we know what we…
Thursday, June 8, 2017 by Jack Craver
Police
Public Safety Commission has a HOT debate
As the city of Austin scrounges for money to hire more police officers, firefighters and paramedics, it shouldn’t look to the tourism industry for help.That was the message delivered to the Public Safety Commission Monday by Bill Worsham, a member…
Tuesday, June 6, 2017 by Jack Craver
Public Safety
Public safety agencies envision big staff increases
In presentations to the Public Safety Commission Monday, leaders of the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Management Services called for significantly boosting staff in the coming years, both to make up for existing shortages and to keep up with…
Monday, May 8, 2017 by Sommer Brugal
Budget
Public Safety Commission weighs in on tight city budget
In advance of what promises to be a budget process full of tough choices, the Public Safety Commission received a briefing from the Budget Office on Fiscal Year 2017-18 at its meeting May 1. The presentation included information and findings…
Wednesday, May 3, 2017 by Sommer Brugal
Austin
Public Safety Commission calls for refined counting measures of city’s homeless population
Andy Hofmeister, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services division chief, addressed the Public Safety Commission at its May 1 meeting. Hofmeister answered questions of concern regarding the city’s growing homeless population.According to Hofmeister, there were roughly 2,200 homeless individuals in Austin…
Thursday, April 6, 2017 by Jack Craver
Austin
Austin Police tout results of homelessness engagement program
As part of a new initiative to combat homelessness, a small group of cops, mental health specialists and medical personnel have been taking to the streets to engage directly with Austin’s homeless.The Homeless Outreach Street Team has had a big…
