More than 300 people have signed up to talk about what transpired during weekend protests against systemic racism and police killings, at an emergency Austin City Council session Thursday. Council members will reconvene the following morning to hear from Austin Police Chief Brian Manley. No immediate action is expected to be taken. According to Manley, […]
Austin Police Department
the law enforcement entity for the City of Austin.
Posted inPolice
Austinites recount police violence during weekend protests, demand cuts to APD budget
The Austin City Council heard from hundreds of people during an emergency meeting Thursday that addressed police violence at weekend protests against the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Austin. Council has been holding its meetings remotely, via video chat, so speakers called in. Some demanded the city slash the police […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Texas governor warns of out-of-state agitators, but protesters arrested in Austin were from here
Gov. Greg Abbott warned during a press conference Tuesday that people are coming to Texas from outside of the state to protest violently. “Some of the violence that we’re seeing is not being done by people who reside in Dallas or even in Texas,” he said at Dallas City Hall. “Instead, the violence is coming […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public safety departments run modified cadet classes during pandemic
At the Public Safety Commission’s Monday meeting, Austin Police Department, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Austin Fire Department representatives discussed how cadet classes that were delayed due to Covid-19 (and other issues) will move forward. ATCEMS Chief of Staff Jasper Brown told the commission that the department had planned a set of oral interviews […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission addresses George Floyd killing
The Public Safety Commission convened Monday afternoon with a lengthy statement by Chair Meghan Hollis, who said she would be “remiss” if she didn’t address the national furor over the police killing of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis. She also announced the commission would be dividing itself into three working groups: one to […]
Posted inCity Hall
City leaders respond to protests
Over the weekend, protesters across the country left their homes in a call for justice for George Floyd and other black victims of police brutality. In Austin, people turned out in an expression of solidarity and to demand accountability for the death of Mike Ramos, in a series of protests that included arrests, the shutting […]
Posted inPolice
APD community engagement audit finds some improvement but data lacking
Although the Austin Police Department has put considerable effort into improving its community policing efforts over the past four years and there have been some positive impacts, an audit by the Office of the City Auditor concluded there was insufficient data to determine how effective those efforts might be. A subsequent survey found that APD […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission gives EMS a boost, criticizes APD
On Monday the city’s Public Safety Commission unanimously recommended an additional $2.3 million for Austin-Travis County EMS to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, while rejecting almost every request from the police department for additional funding. The commission also voted to recommend $3.8 million for overtime at the Austin Fire Department, $818,000 for an additional cadet […]
Posted inPolice
Austin police confirm what activists believed: Man killed in officer shooting was unarmed
Austin police did not find a gun in or near the car of Michael Ramos, the Austin man who died after being shot at by police last month, Chief Brian Manley said Monday. “We did not locate a firearm inside the vehicle, nor did we locate a firearm in the area around the vehicle,” Manley […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission postpones budget recommendation, calls emergency meeting
Budget recommendations from boards and commissions are due to city departments at the end of May. However, the Public Safety Commission did not feel there was ample review time since its April meeting was canceled, so commissioners postponed their recommendation on May 4 in favor of calling a special meeting within the next two weeks. […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission requests updates on APD’s response to Tatum investigation
At its May 4 meeting, the Public Safety Commission discussed the findings of a report by outside investigator Lisa Tatum that examined accusations of racism and homophobia leveled against APD’s top brass in recent months. While the report was unable to corroborate all of the claims, the commission determined it was necessary to receive periodic […]
Posted inPolice
Following racism investigation and a fatal shooting, advocates ask Austin to fire police chief
The Austin Justice Coalition, Grassroots Leadership and other advocacy groups are asking city leaders to fire Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Chief of Staff Troy Gay and Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano. The call to fire the city’s highest-ranking police officer comes after Michael Ramos, 42, was killed when police shot at his vehicle as he […]