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Board Regular Voting Meeting - June 18, 2026
Published: Jun 18, 2026
CPRC Working Group Sustains Multiple Policy Violations Against Officer, Recommends Written Reprimand
Working Group C reviewed case 2025-2338, involving a complaint against an officer for alleged violations of general orders related to impartial attitude and courtesy (301.2), initial response and investigation (401.2), and neglect of duty (900.4.3). The complainant reported that the officer responded to a call about a woman screaming for help, but allowed a male subject to leave the scene without questioning him or identifying him. The complainant felt the officer was uncaring and discourteous, and failed to conduct an adequate investigation. The officer was also resistant to providing his name and badge number. The working group, after reviewing body camera evidence, agreed with APO and Internal Affairs that the officer's actions constituted sustained violations of all three general orders. They found the officer's investigation to be superficial, his attitude resistant and annoyed, and his neglect of duty in allowing a potential offender to leave without proper procedure. The recommended disciplinary action was a written reprimand, which APO and Internal Affairs also recommended.
CPRC to Discuss Consequences of Disagreeing with APD/APO Recommendations
During the CPRC meeting, Commissioner Pena raised a future agenda item concerning the consequences of non-concurrence with APD and APO recommendations, specifically regarding potential lawsuits and taxpayer funds when the CPRC's findings differ from those of APD and APO after a case has been adjudicated. The goal is for the CPRC to make recommendations before APD's final decision to avoid such issues. This would allow for alignment before cases are finalized and potentially reduce risks to the city. This item was added to the future agenda for discussion.
APO Launches Interactive Officer-Involved Shooting Dashboard to Enhance Transparency
The Austin Police Oversight (APO) office presented its new Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) dashboard, a centralized, interactive platform designed to enhance transparency and accountability by compiling and analyzing OIS data. The dashboard includes features for exploring incidents, identifying patterns, and generating insights, with data visualized over time and broken down by demographics, use of force details, and geographic mapping. It is available in both English and Spanish to ensure accessibility and has undergone extensive user testing. The APO will continue to enhance the dashboard, present it to the community, and create tutorial materials. Feedback from the Austin Police Department (APD) and the Austin Police Association (APA) was positive, with both acknowledging the value of having the data presented in a consolidated format. The dashboard currently focuses on OIS incidents, with no immediate plans to include less-lethal use of force data. Updates are made as incidents occur, though a significant time lag is expected due to the need for investigation completion and data verification, with updates typically taking several months.
CPRC Working Group Recommends Exoneration with Training in Taser Incident
Working Group B reviewed case 2025-1839, involving an officer responding to a break-in report where the subject was alleged to have a knife. Upon arrival, the officer heard someone kicking in a door and, after approaching, asked a neighbor about the individual. The officer then proceeded upstairs, announced police, and deployed a taser when the subject moved towards him. The subject fell down the stairs, sustaining a head injury, and it was later determined they did not have a knife. The working group concluded that the officer acted without ill intent, believing he was responding to the information available at the time. They recommended 'exonerated with training,' specifically a Spanish refresher course and de-escalation training, rather than punitive discipline. This recommendation contrasted with APO's proposal of a 3-5 day suspension and APD Internal Affairs' recommendation of counseling/discipline. The working group's final determination was 'exonerated' because they believed the officer's actions, including the taser deployment, were within policy, even though the outcome was unfortunate. The distinction between 'exonerated' (incident occurred but within policy) and 'sustained' (policy violation occurred) was clarified.
CPRC Recommends Termination for Officer After Reviewing Prior Misconduct
The Community Police Review Commission (CPRC) discussed and approved a recommendation to sustain an indefinite suspension for an officer involved in a case (2025-01049). Initially, the working group had reservations about the severity of the proposed indefinite suspension, feeling it might be too harsh given the officer's ten years of service and potential underlying issues like PTSD. However, after requesting and reviewing details of two prior recent cases involving the officer, the working group unanimously agreed that disciplinary action, including termination (equivalent to indefinite suspension), was warranted. These prior cases included a DUI allegation and a violation related to traveling internationally without notification, indicating a pattern of misconduct and a lack of engagement with offered remediation. The working group's recommendation for termination was made after considering the entirety of the officer's record, not just the single incident.
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