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- How Trump’s federal funding freeze is beginning to affect Austin
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Police
The implosion of Austin's crime lab: A timeline
It has blindsided Austin’s criminal justice community. What started a year ago as a few concerns over an audit has spiraled into the permanent closure of the city’s crime lab and the firing of nearly all of its employees. The…
Police • By Austin Monitor • Sep 18, 2017
District attorney isn't making a mountain out of some mold here
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore is downplaying concerns over the hundreds of Austin Police Department rape kits stored inside boxes that were recently found to be covered in apparent mold. Along with representatives from the Austin city manager’s office,…
Police • By Caleb Pritchard • Jul 7, 2017
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…
Police • By Jack Craver • Jun 8, 2017
Activists weigh in on police contract as city begins negotiations
As the city of Austin moves forward with the renegotiation of its public safety contracts, local activists are asking for several changes to the city’s contract with the local police union. The contract, which is negotiated every couple of years,…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 24, 2017
Safety commissioners voice concerns about forensic officer's firing
Slowly but surely, reported Austin Police Department officials at a recent meeting of the Public Safety Commission, the city of Austin is reducing its backlog of DNA evidence. The total backlog has dropped from roughly 4,500 batches in June to…
Police • By Jack Craver • Apr 4, 2017
Safety commission discusses staffing for APD sexual assault unit
The Austin Police Department’s struggle to indict perpetrators of sexual assault crimes could be due in part to a lack of staffing, according to data examined by its Sex Crimes Unit. For nearly a year, the APD’s battle to clear…
Police • By Kara Nuzback • Mar 8, 2017
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APD updates commission on DNA backlog
The Austin Police Department hopes to have the backlog of sexual assault kits eliminated within the next year, Assistant Chief Troy Gay told the Public Safety Commission on Monday. APD will soon begin sending 100 batches of evidence every two…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 6, 2016
Austin Monitor Radio: Travis County Sheriff-elect Sally Hernandez
Incoming Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez joins Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin to chat about her goals for the office, including those that cover its immigration policy. Show is embedded below.
Police • By Michael Kanin • Dec 5, 2016
Council approves Manley to head police department
City Council voted unanimously Thursday to hire Brian Manley, the chief of staff to outgoing Police Chief Art Acevedo, to be the Austin Police Department’s interim chief. Manley said he was “honored, proud and humbled” by both Council’s support and…
Police • By Jack Craver • Dec 2, 2016
Chief Acevedo moves on to Houston
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is Bayou City-bound. On Thursday afternoon, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced that Acevedo will take over that city’s police department, confirming a report from Austin American-Statesman reporter Tony Plohetski earlier in the morning. “To say…
Police • By Caleb Pritchard • Nov 18, 2016
The sad state of DNA testing in sexual assault cases
It might take a while for Austin to clear its backlog of more than 600 batches of DNA evidence related to sexual assaults. Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Brian Manley told members of the Public Safety Commission on Tuesday…
Police • By Jack Craver • Nov 8, 2016
Austin Police Department looks to Dallas County to ease DNA backlog
City Council members today will consider contracting with a Dallas County forensic lab to process evidence in at least 600 sexual assault cases. The contract, funded with money out of the Austin Police Department budget, totals $1.6 million for a…
