Austin and Travis County are facing new federal roadblocks to their work to respond to sexual assault. However, local progress continues. On Monday, the Public Safety Commission convened their second discussion of local data related to sex crimes. The commission heard presentations from Austin Police Department (APD), the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and The […]
Travis County District Attorney
Posted inPublic Safety
After years of dysfunction, Austin Police and the Travis County DA say they’re trying to mend fences
The relationship between the Travis County District Attorney’s office and the Austin Police Department is fraught. It has been since José Garza was elected DA in 2020. Indictments, bungled prosecutions and miscommunication have all played a hand in the less-than-functional relationship between the two parties. But since Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis took over last year, the two sides […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin’s fight against gun violence: A public health-based strategy in uncertain times
Three years after the tragedy in Uvalde, Austin is doubling down on a different approach to gun violence: treating it like a public health crisis. With the third anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24 and an upcoming city and county summit to mark Gun Violence Awareness Month, the Austin Monitor took […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Austin’s redemption arc: The embarrassing recent failures and hard-fought reforms in our city’s response to sexual assault
April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The city of Austin has garnered national attention for its prior failures to investigate cases and support survivors in their healing and, more recently, for its survivor-led reforms. The Austin Monitor took a look back at the recent challenges and victories in Austin’s sexual assault response system. […]
Posted inPolice
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 the summer of 2020. Taylor was indicted by Travis County District Attorney José Garza in […]
Posted inTravis County
Why is someone suing to get Travis County DA José Garza out of office – and what comes next?
A Travis County resident is trying to remove District Attorney José Garza from office. Betsy Dupuis filed a lawsuit Friday under House Bill 17, which allows anyone in a county to try to remove that county’s top prosecutor. Her complaint is similar to a previous one filed against the DA. Dupuis also told KXAN that Garza’s office mishandled a case after […]
Posted inTravis County
Travis County DA faces removal attempt under Texas law targeting ‘rogue’ prosecutors
A Travis County resident is seeking to remove progressive District Attorney José Garza from office using a 2023 Texas law aimed at limiting the discretion of locally elected prosecutors. A state district judge in Comal County on Friday appointed an attorney to represent Texas and pursue the case. House Bill 17 took effect last September and allows courts […]
Posted inElections
José Garza pushes aside Jeremy Sylestine in Democratic primary for Travis County district attorney
Incumbent District Attorney José Garza claimed victory Tuesday in the race to keep his job as Travis County district attorney. As of 10 p.m., Garza had a more than 30-point lead over Jeremy Sylestine, picking up 38,379 votes to Sylestine’s 19,767, according to the Travis County Clerk. The race between Garza and Sylestine got messy ahead […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Austin police investigating stabbing of pro-Palestinian demonstrator as hate crime
Austin police are investigating a stabbing near the University of Texas campus over the weekend as a hate crime. Zacharia Doar, 23, was grabbing a bite to eat with three of his friends Sunday after attending a rally in support of Palestinian rights and calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The group said they were […]
Posted inPolice
Police union leadership says oversight lawsuit further stalls labor contract negotiations
After nearly a year without a police labor contract, city leadership has signaled its hope for – and taken steps toward – a new agreement in early 2024. But incoming Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock says recent developments, including a recently filed lawsuit, have raised questions that need answering before the union will return […]
Posted inPolice
Travis County dismisses charges against APD officers who used beanbag rounds in 2020 protests
The Travis County district attorney has dropped assault charges against 17 Austin police officers who used so-called “less lethal” beanbag rounds over a weekend of racial justice protests in 2020. District Attorney José Garza pursued charges against 21 officers after several Austinites were seriously injured during protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Data collection issues threaten initiative to prevent gun violence
A disconnect between the Austin Police Department and a criminal justice reform organization could delay a new violence reduction initiative, Travis County officials said Tuesday. The glitch came to light Tuesday during a progress report to the Travis County Commissioners Court. Last November, commissioners dedicated federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to create two […]