Stories by Emma Freer
Public Safety Commission pushes for full implementation of police oversight measures
The Public Safety Commission chided the Office of Police Oversight for its lack of communication and progress regarding the implementation of the Austin Police Oversight Act and a related ordinance enacting some of the act’s provisions. “It’s now December, and…
Police • By Emma Freer • Dec 6, 2023
Council to consider public safety stations as community benefit eligible for density bonuses
City Council will consider adding public safety space – like fire, police and EMS stations – as a community benefit eligible for density bonus programs and planned unit developments (PUD) at its meeting on Thursday. District 6 Council Member Mackenzie…
Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Nov 30, 2023
City Council moves toward enshrining remote work options
City Council recently approved a resolution that initiates amendments to the city’s Climate Equity Plan, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan regarding remote work policies for city employees. The amendments – recommended by the Planning Commission…
City Hall • By Emma Freer • Nov 17, 2023
Public Safety Commission encourages language accessibility across public safety agencies
The Public Safety Commission encouraged the city’s public safety agencies to continue efforts to improve language accessibility at its meeting on Monday. “It seems … hugely important that we grow our fluency across all the departments,” said Chair Nelly Ramírez.…
Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Nov 9, 2023
APD Training Academy audit shows improvement – but not enough to curb attrition
An external audit of the Austin Police Department’s 148th cadet class, which graduated in September, shows progress in “reimagining public safety,” but attrition remains a constant challenge. Under internal audit protocols developed by Kroll Associates in March 2022, APD is…
Police • By Emma Freer • Oct 19, 2023
Council members question Garza’s promotion of police oversight director
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza’s recent promotion of Gail McCant to director of the Office of Police Oversight has rankled City Council members, who say he backtracked on a prior commitment to conduct a national search and skirted transparency considerations. …
Police • By Emma Freer • Oct 13, 2023
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Travis County shows starkest child welfare inequities among large Texas counties
Black children in Travis County disproportionately are the subject of reports of abuse and neglect, investigated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and removed from their homes, compared to white children. This is according to an…
Travis County • By Emma Freer • Oct 6, 2023
Ethics Review Commission dismisses complaint against former parks board member
The Ethics Review Commission dismissed a complaint against former Parks and Recreation Board Member Nina Rinaldi after a two-and-a-half-hour preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Commissioners voted 4-5 to move to a final hearing, which required majority support of the 11-member body.…
City Hall • By Emma Freer • Sep 29, 2023
Working group aims for systemic overhaul of Austin’s handling of sexual assault cases
City Council will consider today three agenda items related to the Austin Police Department’s handling of sexual assault cases. If approved, they would direct more than $443,000 in city and grant funds toward an outside review of such cases opened…
Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Sep 21, 2023
Vacancies at public safety agencies drive overtime costs
Staffing shortages in the city’s police, fire and emergency medical services departments are driving record-high reliance on overtime. Following a request from the city’s Public Safety Commission, public safety officials provided data on overtime use, as well as some possible…
Public Safety • By Emma Freer • Sep 13, 2023
Qadri sets sights on closing ‘windowless-apartment loophole’
District 9 City Council Member Zo Qadri will sponsor a resolution “kick(ing) off the process to close the windowless-apartment loophole,” which in recent years has surfaced as a problem for students at the University of Texas at Austin and residents…
Housing • By Emma Freer • Sep 8, 2023
Austin police chief turnover follows national trends
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon’s recent announcement that he will retire ushers in the city’s third search for a top cop in just over five years. Experts say police chief turnover is an enduring challenge catalyzed in recent years by…
