Austin’s Citizen Review Panel is suspended
Thursday, January 25, 2018 by Trey Shaar
The city of Austin is suspending its Citizen Review Panel, leaving police with less public oversight – at least for now. The move ends 17 years of volunteer panel members weighing in on complaints from the public about Austin police officers.
Under the city’s last labor contract with Austin police officers, members of the review panel had access to internal Austin Police Department documents even before investigations of complaints were complete. That contract expired in December, and City Council unanimously rejected a new one. With negotiations in limbo, police officers are operating under a standard State of Texas civil service law, which does not allow citizen access to internal police documents.
“In light of these factors, and pending future direction from the Council concerning labor relations at APD, I am suspending all further operations of the CRP at this time,” Interim City Manager Elaine Hart wrote in a memo to the mayor and City Council members. “In taking this action, I wish to acknowledge with deep gratitude the work of the current CRP members.”
The Austin Police Association said it anticipates resuming contract negotiations after the new city manager, Spencer Cronk, starts work next month.
This story first appeared on kut.org.
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