Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
-
Most Popular Stories
- The Austin area won’t be seeing a lot of bluebonnets this year. Here’s why.
- SXSW shrinks as indie venues contemplate competitiveness
- Eviction crisis spreads as affordability pressures worsen
- City pauses $10M in airport art over concerns local creatives were excluded
- Icon Homes prepping smaller home printing tech to meet Austin’s infill push
-
-
Discover News By District
-
Popular Whispers
- Austin’s minority homeownership gap smaller than national average
- Nick Barbaro retires as publisher of ‘The Austin Chronicle’
- Central Health schedules Community Conversation event
- Infrastructure leaders slated to gather at AT&T Hotel and Conference Center
- Foundation offers $10M in grants to support health careers
Police
Police, state ready to intervene on after-hours bars operating downtown
The Austin Police Department may soon take steps to punish downtown bars and nightclubs identified recently as potentially violating state liquor laws by operating and selling drinks after hours. At the latest meeting of the Downtown Commission, talk turned to…
Police • By Chad Swiatecki • Sep 23, 2024
Why doesn't the Austin Police Department publish yearly reports on the crimes it solves?
People have opinions on policing, but there’s one unifying constant in discussions around the practice: Crimes are bad, and they should be solved. To measure that efficacy, departments across the country use clearance rates, an imperfect metric but one that…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Sep 10, 2024
Former officer proposes settlement that includes changes at APD
City Council last week approved a payment of up to $293,000 to a law firm to defend the city against claims of discrimination and harassment at the Austin Police Department. The total contract amount for Schmoyer Reinhard LLP could be…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Sep 6, 2024
Lisa Davis confirmed as the next head of the Austin Police Department
Lisa Davis is the new head of the Austin Police Department. City Council approved the nomination of the nearly 32-year law enforcement veteran, who comes to Austin from Cincinnati, to take the helm at APD. Davis’ approval comes after a…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Aug 7, 2024
Lisa Davis named sole finalist for Austin police chief
Lisa Davis, an assistant chief with Cincinnati’s police force, has been chosen to take over the Austin Police Department, City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced Friday morning. “I have elected to move Chief Davis forward for confirmation by the City Council…
Police • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Aug 2, 2024
Downtown Austin safety team increases patrol in response to APD staffing shortage
Austin has been grappling with a serious police understaffing problem, making patrolling the downtown area harder. In an effort to fill that gap, the Downtown Austin Alliance created a new safety team to hit the streets. The DAA, a nonprofit…
Police • By Lucciana Choueiry, KUT News • Jul 25, 2024
Subscribe to our newsletter
The two finalists in Austin's police chief search are from Cincinnati and Milwaukee
Lisa Davis, an assistant police chief for the Cincinnati Police Department, and Jeffrey B. Norman, police chief at the Milwaukee Police Department, are the two finalists in Austin’s search for its next police chief. Tuesday’s announcement comes after weeks of…
Police • By Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT • Jul 17, 2024
Electric vehicles for APD will arrive by the end of the year
City fleet officials updated the Public Safety Commission on Monday about their plan to add a fleet of electric vehicles for the Austin Police Department as part of an effort to meet the city’s net-zero emission target by 2040. The…
Police • By Dylan Ebs • Jul 3, 2024
Travis County grand jury decides against charging Christopher Taylor with murder again
Austin police officer Christopher Taylor will no longer face prosecution for the fatal shooting of Mike Ramos in 2020. The shooting was a month before the murder of George Floyd, and Ramos’ name was invoked in racial justice protests in…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • Jun 27, 2024
Staff shortages are still a problem at APD
Before a scheduled briefing on the Austin Police Department’s community policing program, members of the City Council Public Safety Committee heard a pitch from Ethan Cheramie of On Scene Services proposing that his company take over the duties of officers…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Jun 11, 2024
Austin police knew 'less-lethal' rounds could seriously injure people. They used them anyway.
Austin police officers shot scores of racial justice protesters in May 2020 with lead-pellet bags used to control crowds. Dozens of people were seriously injured by the so-called “less lethal” ammunition. The city has paid out more than $20 million…
Police • By Andrew Weber, KUT • May 31, 2024
Report finds mixed progress in APD’s work to implement police academy reforms
In assessing the latest analysis of the Austin Police Department’s Training Academy, members of City Council stressed the importance of a comprehensive audit system to ensure that years and money spent to improve the academy aren’t wasted. Concerns over the…
