APA survey IDs some chief concerns

The results of an Austin Police Association survey prompted a quick response from APD chief Art Acevedo on Thursday. Of the 883 active members of the union (out of 1,728) surveyed, 54.5 percent would rate the department morale as “poor” and 47.4 percent said that “better leadership” would make the biggest improvement to the department (followed closely by “more police officers,” which 42.8 percent of those responding chose). In response to the survey, which is embedded below, Acevedo released the following statement: “As the Chief and a member of what is arguably one of the finest police agencies in the nation, and as a leader who has great respect and admiration for the women and men I serve, I am excited at the opportunity this survey provides to address the concerns raised. … I look forward to working with our leadership cadre to ensure we are doing everything we can to continue moving our organization forward. Our work is especially critical in light of the current negative climate nationally as it relates to policing. I am proud of the fact that the men and women of the Austin Police Department continue to work diligently to keep the City of Austin one of the safest cities in the United States, despite the long standing and well documented challenges we face as a profession. I am confident the best days of the APD are yet to come.”

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