CITY FOUNDED OF AUSTIN 1839 1839
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
2024
Annual Report
The Office of Police Oversight provides independent, impartial oversight
of the Austin Police Department. OPO and APD are separate departments
within the City of Austin. OPO is staffed by civilians with oversight, legal,
policy, and community engagement expertise.
Executive Summary
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and trust
between the Austin Police Department (APD) and the community it serves. This 2024 Annual Report
provides a comprehensive overview of OPO's work and highlights work in policy, complaint oversight,
and community engagement. It also reflects the continued implementation of the Austin Police
Oversight Act and ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety practices and ensure that community
voices remain central to the oversight process.
Key Accomplishments in 2024
Policy & Research
Transparency:
OPO proposed twenty-six policy
OPO monitored all external formal complaint
recommendations to APD's General Orders,
investigations and issued closeout notifications
including expanded body-worn camera use, a
to complainants, maintaining independent
standalone drone policy, appearance standards
oversight even as final authority rests with APD
aligned with the CROWN Act, and enhanced
under state law.
oversight of off-duty officer conduct. OPO
continues to provide feedback related to APD's
Year-to-Year Trends
curriculum and reviews APD and TCOLE training
In 2024, community contacts declined
materials to ensure alignment with community
compared with 2023, but compliments for
values and best practices. Following the
APD more than doubled, suggesting improved
passage of SB 4, OPO reviewed APD's policies
quality of engagement. At the same time, both
on racial profiling and interactions with foreign
external and internal complaints rose, and
nationals. No changes were recommended, as
more officers faced discipline. Most notably,
current policies aligned with national standards.
sustained external complaints increased nearly
fourfold (69 in 2024 compared to 14 in 2023),
Community Engagement:
reflecting both a higher volume of complaints
OPO expanded outreach through newsletters,
and more assertive oversight by OPO.
social media, and public meetings. The
Community Police Review Commission was
Conclusion
re-established with 11 randomly selected and
While 2023 was a transitional year focused
trained members, preparing to resume public
on rebuilding structures and implementing
meetings in 2025.
the Austin Police Oversight Act, 2024 marked
a period of maturity and momentum. OPO
Complaint Oversight:
advanced policy reform, strengthened
OPO received 1,052 community contacts
complaint oversight, and deepened community
resulting in 841 external complaints (813
trust-demonstrating a more assertive and
involving APD officers). Recommendations
effective role in ensuring accountability and
included 420 Community Concerns, 305
transparency in Austin's public safety system.
Supervisory Referrals, and 88 Formal
Complaints. In 2024, 125 officers were
disciplined, and OPO issued 21 disciplinary
objections or recommendations.
Table of Contents
Message from the City Manager and the Director
1
Introduction
2
Policy and Research Division
3
Communications and Community Engagement Division
10
Complaints Division
17
Glossary
28
Appendix
34
Message from the City Manager
"
Nationally, police oversight plays a crucial role in
ensuring that local police departments operate
with fairness and integrity. Police oversight in
Austin is designed to ensure police accountability,
foster transparency, and promote an atmosphere
of earned trust between Austinites and the Austin
Police Department (APD). This report outlines the
accomplishments of the Office of Police Oversight
and its efforts to build sustainable partnerships
and ensure the City's implementation of the
Police Oversight Act. This work provides a strong
T.C. Broadnax
foundation for continued progress.
"
City Manager
Message from the Director
"
I am proud to present the Office of Police
Oversight's (OPO) 2024 annual report, which shares
the accomplishments and achievements from our
three divisions: complaints, policy and research,
and communications and community engagement.
From reviewing feedback on police officer conduct
to engaging community members and researching
national best practices in policing, our staff made
significant strides in advancing transparency and
accountability in the last year.
As we prepared this report, our staff reminisced,
feeling a sense of achievement at how far we have
come and gathering our resolve to push forward.
We do not expect the journey to be speedy or
Gail McCant
straightforward. Still, we are committed to moving
onward and upward to make the community safer
Office of Police Oversight Director
for both officers and community members.
"
1
Introduction
During 2024, OPO's work was shaped by several critical milestones:
May 2024 marked the first full year of implementation for
the Austin Police Oversight Act (Chapter 2-15) and Council
Resolution 99. Chapter 2-15 and Resolution 99 enshrined
OPO's authority, affirming the City of Austin's commitment
to independent and impartial police oversight.
In September 2024, a Travis County judge ruled that the
City of Austin would no longer maintain the separate
personnel files for police officers, known as G-files,
allowing for even further transparency.
In October 2024, the City of Austin and the Austin Police
Association finalized a 5-year Meet and Confer Agreement
after operating without a labor contract for over one year.
Thanks to these changes, OPO is in a strong position to effectively execute its mission
to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department's conduct, practices, and
policies to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency, and create
sustainable partnerships throughout the community.
2
CTY FOUNDED OF AUSTIN 1839 1839
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
Policy and
Research Division
The Office of Police Oversight's Policy and Research Division conducts academic,
legal, quantitative, and qualitative research to support the OPO's mission of
providing impartial assessment of APD's practices and policies. This division also
synthesizes national best practices in policing to support recommendations.
3
Policy Recommendations
Research and analysis are vital to the Office of Police Oversight's mission of enhancing
accountability and transparency within the Austin Police Department.
Policy recommendations can originate from various sources, including:
OPO complaints from
community members
APD-initiated policy changes
OPO-initiated policy changes
City Manager or City Council
OPO analyzed all
58
of APD-initiated policy changes.
In addition, OPO made
26
specific policy recommendations to APD.
Of those recommendations,
8
were OPO-initiated policy changes.
See specific OPO-initiated recommendations on next page.
OPO's Policy and Research Division recommendations reflect a consistent effort to enhance
transparency, operational safety, and community trust in the Austin Police Department.
4
OPO Initiated Recommendations
Camera System Use (303.4.2)
1
Broaden APD policy language to cover more circumstances where Body Worn
Cameras (BWC) must be used. Create a new, distinct policy governing how APD
courtesy transports are recorded and managed.
Transport Vehicle Policy
2
APD acquires additional transport vans with prisoner transport inserts to
ensure safer transportation of individuals, especially those who exhibit physical
resistance during arrest.
Supervisor Responsibilities (902.2.4)
3
APD remove the language excluding OPO complaints from the standard
supervisory review process.
Outside Agency Assistance (362)
4
Add explicit language to the General Orders to safeguard laws and civil rights
when APD collaborates with outside agencies.
Drone Policy
5
Establish a standalone policy addressing APD's use of drones (Unmanned Aerial
Systems) to clarify operational rules, oversight, and accountability for drone
deployment.
Financial Responsibility (342.3.5)
6
Clearer and more consistent enforcement of specific traffic regulations by
officers.
Hair Policy (924.3.1)
7
Revise APD appearance standards for both male and female sworn employees in
accordance with state law (CROWN Act) and include clear definitions to prevent
ambiguity.
Off-Duty Law Enforcement Actions (364)
8
Tighten APD standards and broaden requirements for reporting of officer off-
duty actions.
*See the full list of recommendations in the appendix.
5
Academy Curriculum Recommendations
In 2024, the OPO started collaborating
APD instructor class materials, and
with APD's Educational Development Unit
learning resources provided to cadets. The
to enhance the training curriculum at the
committee held its first curriculum review
Austin Police Academy. As part of this
meeting on November 5, 2024. The OPO
effort, OPO's Policy Compliance Consultant
curriculum recommendations summarized
now serves on the Professional Advisory
below emphasize the importance of
Committee (PAC), which reviews, evaluates,
community collaboration, updated
and offers recommendations to improve
resources, and inclusive practices to ensure
the academy's curriculum.
effective, respectful, and responsive law
enforcement training.
This work includes a comprehensive
review of training materials from the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE),
Recommendations
Curriculum: Interacting with Drivers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Community Engagement
Gather direct feedback from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
community through town halls or sessions at the School for the Deaf.
Use Modern Communication Tools for Interpretation
Update communication methods to reflect current technology and ensure
compliance with the City of Austin's Language Access Policy. Clear protocols
for contacting contracted interpreter services should be provided.
Expand Active Learning Opportunities
Involve volunteers from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community in role-
playing scenarios. Additionally, include recent and relevant case study
examples from both local and national contexts.
Localized History
Refocus history lessons on local context, such as The School for the Deaf in
Austin, and eliminate less relevant content like Gallaudet University.
Please visit our website to read OPO's curriculum recommendations.
https://www.austintexas.gov/document/apd-training-academy-curriculum-
recommendation-interacting-drivers-who-are-deaf-or-hard-hearing
6
Use-of-Force Analysis
In accordance with the Austin Police Oversight Act and Resolution 99, the Office
of Police Oversight has been charged with analyzing all APD use-of-force incident
data.
In 2024, the Policy and Research Division published quarterly reports on the use
of force data provided by APD. This division reviews and consolidates use-of-
force data from monthly reports provided by APD's Force Review Unit. These
analyses highlighted patterns in police use of force and identified areas that
required further data quality improvement or transparency.
See the full quarterly reports available on OPO's website.
https://www.austintexas.gov/document-collection/use-force-anaysis
7
Senate Bill 4 Resolution Compliance
State Senate Bill 4 (SB 4), signed into law in December 2023, was a new immigration law
in Texas that authorized state and local law enforcement to arrest and deport individuals
believed to have entered the state illegally. Due to legal issues contesting its constitutionality,
SB 4 only briefly went into effect and is currently not enforceable.
City Council Resolution 2024-0829-134
In response to SB 4, the Austin City Council
OPO evaluated both APD policies,
adopted a resolution reaffirming the
reviewed national best practices, and
City's stance on being a welcoming city
held collaborative discussions with APD
for immigrants and directed an analysis of
leadership to gain insight into current
APD General Orders 328 (Racial or Bias-
practices. Based on its comprehensive
Based Profiling) and 330 (Interactions with
analysis, OPO found that both APD
Foreign Nationals) to ensure the general
General Orders align with best practices/
orders protect immigrant communities
standards and made no formal
and maintain compliance with anti-bias
recommendations to revise the two
and non-discrimination standards.
policies identified by the City Council.
8
Police Oversight Implementation
Working Group Meetings
The Policy and Research Division participated in the quarterly meetings
of the Police Oversight Implementation Workgroup and presented its
recommendations to the community.
OPO recognizes the importance of maintaining open communication
with community members and gathering feedback throughout the
policy improvement process.
*See the full list of recommendations located in the appendix.
Drone Policy- APD currently has no policy related to
drone usage in the General Orders
ONLY!
OPO Recommendation
APD Response
APD create separate
APD this
General the
9
CTRY FOUNDED OF AUSTIN 1839
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
Communications
and Community
Engagement Division
wall
The Office of Police Oversight's Communications and Community Engagement
Division increases transparency and enhances accountability by informing the
public and creating sustainable partnerships throughout the community.
10
Central Depository Online
The Office of Police Oversight's website is a central hub for documents related to police
oversight in Austin. The published documents include complaints and compliments data,
disciplinary memos and recommendations, policy analysis and reports, lawsuits filed against
the City of Austin that allege officer misconduct, and community meeting presentations.
In 2024, OPO published 151 documents online, including:
Six disciplinary memos detailing the disciplinary decisions issued by the
Chief of Police.
Fifteen disciplinary recommendations and objections outlining OPO's
investigatory findings and basis for recommending officer discipline.
Seven case documents related to lawsuits filed against the City of Austin
alleging APD officer misconduct.
Twelve policy recommendations from OPO to improve APD policy for both
officer and community member safety.
One curriculum recommendation analyzing the training materials currently
utilized at the APD training academy.
OPO publishes all documents in English and Spanish and utilizes screen reader-friendly
design to ensure accessibility across the community. OPO's online central depository is
accessible here.
atxpoliceoversight.org
3
11
Community
Engagement
Building strong, sustainable relationships within the community is a key part of OPO's
mission. To ensure all community members can access and benefit from this work, the
division prioritizes language access and accessibility. The staff is committed to making
OPO's programs and services clear, transparent, and readily available to everyone in
the community.
In 2024, OPO's Communications and Community Engagement Division engaged
community members on various topics, including:
Submitting a compliment
Community members' rights
or complaint about their
when interacting with police
experiences with APD officers.
officers.
Documents published in the
Improving APD's policies and
online central depository.
practices with recommendations
and research.
12
In 2024, OPO hosted or participated in 50 public events or engagements to connect
with community members. Sharing information about the complaints process,
discipline recommendations, and policy recommendations, including:
Presenting to the Public Safety
Commission about OPO's
implementation of the Austin
Police Oversight Act (Municipal
Code 2-15) and re-establishment
of the Community Police Review
Commission.
Discussion
Hosting Police Oversight
Implementation Working Group
meetings each quarter to share
complaints data, answer questions
about the complaints process, and
share updates about OPO's work.
AUSTIN
Educating APD Academy cadets
POLICE
about police oversight as part
AUSTIN
TEXAS
of the training curriculum.
Austin 136th Police Academy
Cadet
"Rise When 2017 Others Cannot"
13
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
The mission of the Office of Police
Oversight (OPO) provide impartal
Partnering with Austin/Travis County
oversight of the Austin Police Department's
conduct practices, and to enhance
accountability
the
to
transparency
sustainable
EMS Pop-Up Resource Clinics to
partnerships
the
community
f
offer essential supplies, information,
ATX_OPO
and support to community members
atxpoliceoversight.org Learn more at
experiencing homelessness.
STATE KUSTIN
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
Raising awareness about police
oversight and distributing
summer safety items and
information at Austin Pride.
Partnering with the Austin
9
Public Library to educate
community members about
sharing their feedback on
interactions with Austin police.
Connecting with Austin boards and
commissions to raise awareness about
A
U
S
T
I
N
CITY
H
A
L
L
opportunities to engage with police
oversight in Austin.
Critical Incidents
In 2024, OPO oversaw the public
Critical Incident Briefing videos are
release of APD videos related to
published on APD's YouTube.
seven critical incidents, including
https://www.youtube.com/@
one death in custody and six officer-
AustinPolice
involved shooting incidents.
OPO consults and provides feedback
on the videos selected for public
release as part of APD's policy of
releasing critical incident videos
within ten days of the incident.
Digital Engagement
and Media
OPO's Communications and Community Engagement team uses digital and traditional
media to increase awareness of OPO's work in the community.
In 2024, OPO:
Released regular newsletters with the latest opportunities for community members
to engage in police oversight, including Police Oversight Working Group Meetings,
reports, recommendations, and more.
Published social media posts on Facebook and X to inform the community about
OPO's work, upcoming events, and when and where we will be in the community.
Corresponded with local and national press to enhance understanding of issues
related to police oversight and public safety.
15
Community Police
Review Commission
The Community Police Review Commission is a
The commissioners attended twenty hours
City commission consisting of eleven community
of training created by OPO, in partnership
members. It is independent of and separate from
with APD, and other City departments, to
the Austin Police Department and the Office of
understand the responsibilities of their role.
Police Oversight.
The training focused on the laws, rules,
In May 2023, Austin voters approved the Austin
and policies governing the conduct of
Police Oversight Act (City Code Section 2-15),
police officers in Austin, and in accordance
which changed some of the requirements
with recommendations of the National
for serving on the commission, including the
Association for Civilian Oversight of Law
commissioners' eligibility and selection process.
Enforcement. The commission completed
the training and resumed public meetings in
The selection process included an open
2025.
application process, which began in Fall 2023.
Next, the City Auditor reviewed the applicants'
eligibility per Chapter 2-15. The Office of Police
Oversight, on behalf of the City Manager, selected
the commissioners on November 18, 2024.
16
CITY FOUNDER OF AUSTIN 1839 1839
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
Complaints
Division
OPO's Complaint Division provides impartial oversight
by accepting complaints and compliments regarding
the conduct of the Austin Police Department officers.
17
There are several ways community members can submit
complaints or compliments to the Office of Police Oversight.
Verbally through the Complaint & Compliments line at (512) 972-2676
In-person complaint intake hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Electronically via e-mail at policeoversight@austintexas.gov
In writing via U.S. mail (P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767)
An essential part of building trust between
In 2024, OPO received 1,052 contacts, of
the community and APD is providing
which 211 were compliments for APD. In
opportunities for the community to submit
2023, OPO received 1,552 contacts, of which
positive and negative feedback about their
99 were compliments for APD.
interactions with the APD. OPO works to
provide these opportunities in a way that is
Compared to the previous calendar year,
accessible to all.
contacts in 2024 went down by 32% and
compliments increased by 113%.
Contacts & Compliments
2,239
1,876
1,552
Contacts
1,052
Compliments
187
211
117
99
2021
2022
2023
2024
*To learn more about these terms, refer to the glossary.
18
OPO Complaints Process
1
Preliminary Review
OPO received complaints from
OPO reviews evidence related
external complaintants alleging
to a complaint or incident of
potential policy violations.
alleged misconduct.
2
Preliminary Investigation
OPO conducts detailed
OPO recommends a full
interviews with complainants
investigation if warranted.
and witnesses.
3
Classify
OPO makes Classification recommendations for external complaints.
4
Complaint Outcome
Upon completion of an investigation, OPO issues closeout notification.
OPO may object to disposition or disciplinary action imposed by APD.
OPO may make disciplinary recommendations.
5
APD Disposition/Discipline
APD has sole discretion in determining
Upon completion of an
what disciplinary action, if any, is
investigation, APD determines the
issued to the involved officer(s).
outcome for involved officer(s).
19
1
Preliminary Review
There are two different types of complaints:
OPO receives complaints from external
internal and external. Austin Police
complainants alleging potential policy
Department (APD) initiates internal
violations. OPO reviews evidence related
complaints, while external complaints
to a complaint or incident of alleged
originate from community members'
misconduct and forwards complaints to
contacts made to the OPO.
the APD Internal Affairs Division (IAD).
Similar to 2023, OPO assessed external complaints to understand better what community
members were reporting. The categories shown below relate only to allegations made
by community members and were evaluated by OPO based on the allegations that
community members made to describe their complaints. This assessment by OPO is
conducted before the complaint enters the preliminary investigation phase.
Allegations by Type
No Assistance from APD
308
28.51%
257
27.70%
Courtesy/Impartial
288
26.64%
Attitude
216
23.30%
False/Incorrect Report
83
7.68%
Writing or Citation
90
9.70%
Officer Driving
96
8.90%
Dangerously
87
9.30%
False Arrest or Detention
71
6.57%
74
7.90%
Loss/Destruction of
59
5.46%
Property
70
7.50%
Use of Force
90
8.32%
54
5.80%
Racial Profiling
40
3.70%
42
4.50%
Other
39
3.57%
30
3.66%
Search/Seizure
7
0.65%
6
0.64%
2024
2023
Like in 2023, in 2024, OPO found that
No assistance from APD
the top two complaint categories
described by the community were:
Lack of courtesy/impartial attitude
*See definitions for these allegations in glossary.
20
2
Preliminary Investigation
When conducting a preliminary
Community members may also file
investigation, OPO conducts detailed
complaints anonymously. Accepting
interviews with complainants and
anonymous feedback increases
witnesses and recommends a full
accessibility for community members
investigation if warranted.
who may otherwise be unwilling or
afraid to share their experiences.
In 2024,
OPO recieved
84
anonymous complaints
What is an anonymous complaint?
*See the glossary for the full definition.
Anonymous Complaints
102
100
91
90
84
80
70
60
50
53
40
30
20
10
0
2
2021
2022
2023
2024
2024 saw a 58% increase from 2023.
21
3
Classify
The OPO is authorized to recommend the investigative classification for external
complaints only. APD makes the final classification determination for all complaints.
APD outlines multiple classifications, which can be found in the glossary.
A complaint's investigative classification determines to what extent the Internal
Affairs Division (IAD) will investigate the complaint. While OPO conducts a
preliminary review of every complaint, we do not initiate a preliminary investigation
for all complaints.
The OPO received 1,052 contacts in 2024, which resulted in 841 external
complaints. Of those external complaints, 28 complaint contacts did not involve
APD officers.
The OPO recommended the following classifications for the 813 complaints
involving APD officers: 420 Community Concerns, 305 Supervisory Referrals, and 88
Formal Complaints.
When a formal complaint was recommended to IAD, OPO identified that a full and
thorough investigation was needed, or that a complainant had requested that the
OPO process their complaint as a formal complaint.
OPO Classification Recommendations
Community Concern
305
Contacts Not APD
420
Formal Complaints
Notice of Complaint
Supervisor Referral
77
*See definitions for these
88
28
classifications in the appendix.
22
3
The chart below outlines the classifications APD assigned to each of the 841 external
complaints and the 241 internal complaints.
Complaint Classifications
A Serious violation, up to and
13
including termination
48
B Less serious violation, 15-
11
day suspension or less
113
C No violation, training or
10
counseling is conducted
0
D No violation, incident did
115
not occur
0
Administrative Inquiry
0
10
Supervisory Referral-Minor
7
Policy Violation
59
Supervisor Referral
175
2
Community Concern
369
1
Information
109
7
Pending
3
1
No Classification Recorded
29
0
External (OPO)
Internal (APD)
*See definitions for these classifications in the appendix.
23
4
Complaint Outcome
Upon completing an investigation, OPO issues a closeout notification to the
complainant. OPO may object to disposition or disciplinary action imposed by APD,
and may make independent disciplinary recommendations to APD.
In 2024, OPO monitored all complaint investigations and:
Reviewed information
gathered by APD
Attended interviews
conducted by APD
Recommended case investigation
classifications to APD
Recommended dispositions
after investigation concluded
The OPO forwarded 841 complaints to the APD, recommending that 159 of them be
investigated. Of the 159 recommended cases, APD investigated 159. A total of 69
external complaints were sustained in 2024.
In 2024, APD initiated 241 internal complaints. Of these, 231 were investigated. A
total of 107 internal complaints were sustained in 2024.
See the next page for a graphic representation of this data.
24
4
External Complaints
Taken by OPO
841
Total forwarded complaints
from OPO to the APD.
159
APD investigated
all 159 complaints
OPO recommended
investigating.
69
sustained
complaints
Internal Complaints
Internally Initiated by APD
241
Total APD initiated
complaints
231
complaints
investigated
107
complaints
sustained
25
5
APD Disposition and Discipline
Upon completion of an investigation, APD determines the outcome for the involved
officer(s). APD has sole discretion in determining what disciplinary action, if any, is
issued to the involved officer(s).
In 2024, OPO made 21 recommendations to APD. Three were objections and 18
were discipline recommendations.
Dispositions
A disposition is APD's final determination of how a complaint is closed.
Administratively Closed
92
12
Community Concern
368
0
Exonerated
2
2
Inconclusive
0
5
Information
95
335
Not Recorded
66
0
Pending/Active
6
9
Resigned Under
2
Investigation
15
Retired Under Investigation
0
3
Supervisor Referral
112
2
Supervisory Referral-Minor
17
Policy Violation
64
Sustained
69
107
Unfounded
12
9
External (OPO)
Internal (APD)
*See the glossary for definitions from APD's General Orders regarding the types of
discipline available.
26
5
In 2024, 125 individual Austin Police Department officers received discipline.
Of the 125 disciplined officers, 116 were the subject of internal complaints,
and 9 were the subject of external complaints.
The chart below shows all discipline APD issued to officers in 2024.
Discipline Issued
52
34
27
5
3
3
1
0
Oral Reprimand
Written Reprimand
Education Based Discipline
Temporary Suspension
External (OPO)
Internal (APD)
27
Glossary
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) accepts complaints and compliments about the conduct of Austin
Police Department (APD) officers. Any adult may submit complaints or compliments based on their
own or someone else's experience. OPO accepts contacts via phone, email, U.S. mail, online, or in person
at our office.
The following frequently used terms are organized based on where the term occurs during the
complaints process.
CONTACTS, COMPLAINTS, AND COMPLIMENTS
An essential part of building trust between the community and APD is providing opportunities for
people to submit positive and negative feedback about their interactions with the Department. OPO
works to provide these opportunities in a way that is accessible to all. As a result, community members
who wish to share feedback about APD may communicate with OPO online, in person, or by phone,
email, or mail.
CONTACT: OPO uses the term contact to refer to any communication received, whether a
compliment, complaint, or general inquiry.
COMPLIMENT: When referring to positive feedback, OPO uses the term compliment, or thank
you. Community members may submit compliments by phone, email, U.S. mail, online, or in
person at our office, and do not have to provide any contact information.
COMPLAINT: When referring to negative feedback, OPO uses the term complaint. Community
members may file complaints by phone, email, U.S. mail, online, or in person at our office. A
complaint may allege that an Austin police officer acted improperly, violated the law, or APD policy.
ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT: Anonymous complaints provide accessibility for community
members who would otherwise be unwilling or afraid to share their experiences. Community
members may file anonymous complaints by phone, email, U.S. mail, online, or in person at our
office, and do not have to provide any contact information. For anonymous complaints, OPO
does not record the name or contact information of the person filing the anonymous complaint.
However, OPO may be limited in what we can do with the information if the complainant does not
verify their information or statement under oath.
28
1 — Preliminary Review
Preliminary Review is the first step in the complaints process. During the preliminary review, OPO
complaints specialists review materials, such as body cameras or dash camera videos, and any information
the complaint provides to see if a policy violation occurred. After the preliminary review is complete,
complainants can choose how to proceed with their complaint.
Internal Complaint: Internal Complaints are initiated within APD and come to the OPO from IAD. The
original complainant is a sworn member of APD.
External Complaint: External complaints originate from complaints received from community
members. The OPO is authorized to make investigative classification recommendations only for external
complaints, which are complaints that originate from contacts made to the OPO. In contrast, internal
complaints are those initiated by APD.
ALLEGATIONS BY TYPE
In 2024, OPO found that the top two complaint categories described by the community were:
No assistance from APD: A complaint allegation whereby the community member believes they did
not receive adequate police service from an APD officer responsible for handling their specific incident
requiring police assistance.
Lack of courtesy/impartial attitude: A complaint allegation whereby the community member believes
an officer violated a condition of APD General Order 301 "Responsibility to the Community," which
specifies in part, "Employees will be held accountable for the manner in which they exercise the authority
of their office or position. Employees will respect the rights of individuals and perform their services with
honesty, sincerity, courage, and sound judgment."
2 — Preliminary Investigation
During the preliminary investigation, the OPO complaint investigator will evaluate the preliminary
review, interview the complainant and any witnesses, and determine if a policy violation occurred. The
complainant may be required to sign an affidavit. The Office of Police Oversight forwards all requests for
formal investigation to APD's Internal Affairs Division (IAD). A complainant may also request that their
complaint be submitted for investigation as a formal complaint.
29
3 — Classify
FORMAL COMPLAINT: A complainant can request a full investigation.
SUPERVISOR REFERRAL: A complainant can request to speak to an officer's supervisor.
COMMUNITY CONCERN: The complaint can be documented as a community concern or general
feedback for the Austin Police Department (APD).
CONTACTS NOT APD: This data point reflects the number of contacts community members made to
OPO about agencies other than the Austin Police Department (APD).
NOTICE OF COMPLAINT: When a complainant wishes to remain anonymous and requests a formal
investigation, OPO acts as the affiant and forwards the complaint to the Internal Affairs Division as a
Notice of Complaint. Additionally, if OPO identifies an incident involving a serious policy violation
that is of little concern to the complainant the incident is forwarded to the Internal Affairs Division as a
Notice of Complaint.
CLASSIFICATIONS DEFINITIONS: When APD completes the investigation, OPO complaints staff
notifies the complainant of the investigation results, including any discipline issued.
CLASS A: Include, but not limited to, criminal conduct, serious policy violations, or conduct that
could damage the Police Department. Potential discipline may include demotion, more than 15-
days suspension, or indefinite suspension.
CLASS B: Includes, but is not limited to, policy violations such as profanity, belittling language,
inadequate police service, minor traffic violations, negligent damage, or property loss. Potential
discipline may include 15-days suspension or less, or written reprimand.
CLASS C: Includes, but is not limited to, policy violations such as profanity, belittling language,
inadequate police service, minor traffic violations, negligent damage, or loss of property. Potential
discipline may include oral reprimand, training, or educational based discipline.
CLASS D: No policy violations because the evidence shows the allegation is false, or the actions of
the officers were within policy. There is no formal discipline administered for this classification.
ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRY: An inquiry into a critical incident, or other incident, ordered
by the Chief of Police or designee. Inquiries are generally for issues that could destroy public
confidence in, and respect for, the Department or which are prejudicial to the good order of the
Department.
SUPERVISOR REFERRAL-MPV: APD determined that an officer violated policy for some
complaints, though the violation was minor.
30
SUPERVISOR REFERRAL: An informal complaint referred to a supervisor for their attention.
If an investigation discloses misconduct or improper job performance not alleged in the original
complaint, the investigator shall take appropriate action regarding any possible additional
allegations.
COMMUNITY CONCERN: A community concern allows the community to submit feedback to
APD for review. APD does not investigate but reviews the feedback
INFORMATION: An incident is maintained for documentation purposes only.
PENDING INVESTIGATION: There are occasions when an investigation is unable to move
forward for the following reasons:
There is insufficient information to identify the incident or related officers; thus, Office of
Police Oversight is unable to conduct a Preliminary Review or Investigation
APD's Internal Affairs Division is unable to pursue an Administrative Investigation.
The complaint is about another City Department or another law enforcement agency. The
Office of Police Oversight can only accept complaints concerning an APD officer's conduct.
NO CLASSIFICATION: The complaint could not be classified for one of the following reasons:
It fell outside of OPO's authority, such as being filed against another law enforcement agency or
governmental body; The complainant did not request a formal investigation; The complaint was
not sustained.
4 — Complaint Outcome
If the complaint moves to a full investigation, OPO complaint investigators evaluate the preliminary
review, interview the complainant and any witnesses, and determine if a policy violation occurred. A
sworn affidavit may be requested.
Complaints staff monitors APD's investigation, participates in interviews with witnesses and officers, and
provides monthly updates to complainants.
APD INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION: APD's Internal Affairs Division (IAD) investigates all
external formal complaints that were submitted by OPO. External complaints are complaints originating
from the community. APD provided this data, which the Office of Police Oversight confirmed.
RECOMMENDED FOR FULL INVESTIGATION BY APD: The Office of Police Oversight forwards all
requests for formal investigation to APD's Internal Affairs Division (IAD). A complainant can request
that their complaint be submitted for investigation as a formal complaint.
31
AFFIDAVIT: An affidavit is a sworn statement notarized by a state-approved Notary. Texas Local
Government Code, Chapter 143, requires a sworn statement to question a police officer. If the complaint
moves to a full investigation, OPO complaint investigators evaluate the preliminary review, interview the
complainant and any witnesses, and determine if a policy violation occurred. OPO may request a sworn
affidavit so that an APD officer can be questioned about the complaint. OPO complaints staff are notaries
and can notarize complaints affidavits in English and Spanish. OPO can accommodate other languages
upon request.
INTERNAL COMPLAINT: Internal Complaints are initiated within APD and come to the OPO from
IAD. The original complainant is a sworn member of APD.
EXTERNAL COMPLAINT: External complaints originate from complaints received from community
members. The OPO is authorized to make classification recommendations only for external complaints,
which are complaints that originate from contacts made to the OPO. In contrast, internal complaints are
those initiated by APD.
ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATIONS: The OPO complaint process is an administrative investigation
process designed to review allegations of misconduct involving APD General Order violations.
Community members may report allegation of criminal conduct by an APD officer to OPO, however
the OPO will not investigation allegations of criminal conduct. These complaints are referred to APD's
Special Investigation Unit for investigations. OPO will monitor external complaints involving allegations
of criminal conduct to ensure the appropriate administrative action is also taken.
OPO DISCIPLINARY RECOMMENDATION: A disciplinary recommendation is a non-binding written
recommendation from the Director of the Office of Police Oversight to the Chief of Police or an officer's
Chain of command regarding critical incidents or APD DISPOSITION AND DISCIPLINE
DISCIPLINE OBJECTION: OPO issues a discipline objection when it disagrees with the final
disciplinary decision made by the Chief of Police regarding a subject officer. The Chief is required to
respond to OPO's objection in writing within 30 days.
5-APD Dispositions
DISPOSITION
ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSED: Complaints will be administratively closed under one of the
following circumstances:
1. An administrative inquiry has been completed, and no allegations of misconduct were made.
2. The case was classified as a Class C or Class D complaint; or
3. At the discretion of the Chief of Police or designee.
COMMUNITY CONCERN: A community concern allows the community to submit feedback to
APD for review. APD does not investigate but reviews the feedback.
32
EXONERATED: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act occurred but that the act was
justified, lawful, or proper according to Departmental General Orders.
INCONCLUSIVE: When the investigation discloses insufficient evidence to sustain the complaint or
fully exonerate the employee.
INFORMATION: An incident is maintained for documentation purposes only.
CORRECTIVE ACTION: A minor policy violation that normally results in informal discipline.
SUPERVISOR REFERRAL: An informal complaint referred to a supervisor for their attention.
If an investigation discloses misconduct or improper job performance not alleged in the original
complaint, the investigator shall take appropriate action regarding any possible additional allegations.
SUPERVISOR REFERRAL MINOR POLICY VIOLATION: APD determined that an officer violated
policy for some complaints, though the violation was minor.
SUSTAINED: When the investigation discloses sufficient evidence to establish that the act occurred
and constituted misconduct.
UNFOUNDED: When the investigation discloses that the alleged act(s) did not occur
RESIGNED OR SEPARATED DURING ADMINISTRATIVE INVESTIGATION: This metric
represents when APD officers resign or separate from the department before the investigations
conclude or before the Chief of Police can issue a final decision.
DISCIPLINE ISSUED
EDUCATION-BASED DISCIPLINE: An alternative to traditional suspensions offering optional
behavior-focused education and training for suspension of 1 to 5 days at the determination of the
Chain of Command.
ORAL REPRIMAND: A formal document of counseling notifying the employee that a department
general order has been violated. It may be issued for any misconduct that the supervisor determines is
necessary and appropriate to correct the problem.
WRITTEN REPRIMAND: A formal letter of reprimand notifying the employee that a department
general order has been violated. It is issued for any misconduct or performance in which the
supervisor determines this level of discipline is necessary to correct the problem. Generally, written
reprimands will be issued when there is a continuation of problems, or a supervisor determines a one-
time event is serious enough to warrant a written record being placed in the employee's file.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION: This may range from 1 to 3 days, 4 to 15 days, or an agreed-upon 16 to
90-day suspension.
INDEFINITE SUSPENSION: Equivalent to dismissal or termination from the Department.
33
Appendix A
Top 3 Categories for
APD Discipline
SOURCE: Office of Police Oversight
DEPARTMENT VEHICLES:
This was the most cited policy violation for sustained complaints. APD defines this policy as: For purposes
of this order, Department vehicles are considered to be any vehicle used by Department employees for official
Department business, including privately owned vehicles or vehicles owned, rented, leased, or maintained by
the City.
GENERAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This was the second most cited policy violation. APD defines this policy as: It is the policy of the Austin Police
Department that employees conduct themselves at all times in a manner that reflects the ethical standards
consistent with APD written directives. This order shall apply to all sworn and civilian members, including
volunteer, part-time, auxiliary, and nonpaid civilians affiliated with the Department through a Department-
sponsored program while under the direction of a Department employee.
VEHICLE PURSUITS:
APD defines this policy as: Vehicle pursuits expose innocent citizens, law enforcement officers, and fleeing
violators to the risk of serious injury or death. The primary purpose of this order is to provide officers with
guidance in balancing the safety of the public and themselves against law enforcement's duty to apprehend
violators of the law. Another purpose of this order is to minimize the potential for pursuit-related crashes.
Vehicular pursuits require officers to exhibit a high degree of common sense and sound judgment. Officers
must not forget that the immediate apprehension of a subject is generally not more important than the safety
of the public and pursuing officers.
34
Appendix B
2024 OPO Policy
Recommendations
SOURCE: Office of Police Oversight
OPO made policy recommendations on the following General Orders:
211.13 Chain-of-Command Responsibilities in Level 2, 3, and 4 Incident -APD Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO objects to APD's removal of review power from the Force Review Unit.
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD provide a concise definition and explanation.
Recommendation #3: OPO recommends that APD add clarification.
208: Taser Device Guidelines- APD Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD remove any reference to TASER X26 from the
General Orders.
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD specify that additional training is required anytime
an officer upgrades from a TASER 7 to a TASER 10
214.6.2 Tire Deflation Device- APD Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD omit language that appears to narrow the scope
inadvertently.
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD address the safety of the officer deploying the TDD
in policy.
Recommendation #3: OPO recommends that APD rewrite 214.6.2 (c) Pre-Pursuit TDD Deployment for
clarity.
35
214.6.4 Low Speed Intervention- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD provide a concise definition.
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD create training to address LSI.
Recommendation #3: OPO recommends that APD require lights and sirens activated before engaging
in any LSI tactic.
Recommendation #4: OPO recommends that APD clearly outline the factors in which LSI tactics may
be used.
303.4.2 When Camera System(s) Use Is Required- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD expand 303.4.2 (b).
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD create a new Courtesy Transportation policy.
342.3.5 Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD correct grammatical errors in 342.3.5 on Failure to
Maintain Financial Responsibility
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD revise 342.3.5 to add specificity.
362 - Outside Agency Assistance- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD add specific language to the General Orders to
ensure that laws and civil rights are protected when APD assists outside agencies.
364 Off-Duty Law Enforcement Actions- APD Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD improve 364.4.2.
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD amend 364.5 Reporting (a).
Recommendation #3: OPO recommends that APD expand 364.5 Reporting (b).
902.2.4 Initial Supervisor Responsibilities- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends APD remove the language that disqualifies OPO complaints
from the standard processes outlined in 902.2.4.
924.3.1: Hair- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD amend 924.3.1 (a) Male Sworn Employees
Recommendation #2: OPO recommends that APD amend 924.3.1 (b) Female Sworn Employees
Recommendation #3: OPO recommends that APD revise 924.3.1 to provide clear definitions
Drone Policy - OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: OPO recommends that APD create a separate policy in the General Orders
addressing the department's use of drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems).
Transport Vehicle- OPO Initiated
Recommendation #1: The Office of Police Oversight recommends that the Austin Police Department
consider acquiring additional arrest transport vans, equipped with prisoner transport inserts, to
transport arrestees who exhibit physical resistance during the transportation process.
36
Appendix C
APD General Orders
Level of Force Definitions
SOURCE: Austin Police Department
Level of Force - the following from APD's General Orders and describes the different levels of force
measured.
211.2 DETERMINING THE CORRECT FORCE LEVEL 1
LEVEL 1 FORCE INCIDENTS AND IN-CUSTODY DEATHS
(a) Any force resulting in death.
(b) Any force that resulted in a substantial risk of death.
(c) Any intentional firearm discharge at a person, vehicle, or structure regardless of injury.
1. For the purposes of this General Order, TASER Conducted Energy Weapons and less lethal
weapons firing kinetic energy projectiles (i.e. 37mm, and 40mm launchers) are not considered
firearms.
(d) Any intentional firearm discharge at an animal that results in injury to another person.
1. For the purposes of this General Order, TASER Conducted Energy Weapons and less lethal
weapons firing kinetic energy projectiles (i.e. 37mm, and 40mm launchers) are not considered
firearms.
(e) Any unintentional firearms discharge resulting in another person's injury or death.
(f) Any force that resulted in serious bodily injury requiring admittance to the hospital, beyond
emergency room treatment and release (e.g., serious disfigurement, disability, or protracted loss
or impairment of the functioning of any body part or organ).
(g) Use of any impact weapon, including kinetic energy projectiles, and improvised weapons, that
strikes the head of a subject.
(h) In-Custody Deaths: For inquiry, reporting, and review purposes, all in-custody deaths occurring
prior to or within 24 hours after booking shall be treated as Level 1 incidents and require concurrent
inquiries conducted by SIU and IA, regardless of whether force was used on the subject.
(i) The utilization of the Precision Immobilization Technique when serious bodily injury or death
occurs.
37
LEVEL 2 FORCE INCIDENTS
(a) Any strike to the head by an employee with any weaponless technique.
(b) Use of any impact weapons, including kinetic energy projectiles (other than a Taser), and
improvised weapons, to strike a subject and contact is made, regardless of injury. (A strike to the head is
a Level 1).
(c) Any deployment of a police canine resulting in a bite to a subject's skin, or which results in any
injury to a subject.
(d) The utilization of the Precision Immobilization Technique, unless serious bodily injury or death
occurs.
LEVEL 3 FORCE INCIDENTS
(a) Use of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC/Pepper Spray) or other chemical agent on a subject.
(b) Any Taser application (including a Taser application that misses or does not cause NMI).
(c) Use of any impact weapon, including kinetic energy projectiles or any other similar object, in an
attempt to strike a subject but no contact is made.
(d) Use of a baton for a non-striking purpose (e.g., prying limbs, moving, or controlling a subject).
(e) Any force resulting in injury or a continued complaint of pain, but not rising to a Level 1 or 2
incident.
(f) Any weaponless technique that causes an impact to the body with or without a complaint of injury
or pain. (A weaponless strike to the head is a Level 2).
Examples of weaponless techniques include:
1. Hand/palm/elbow strikes.
2. Kicks or leg sweeps.
3. Take-downs.
(g) Any deployment of a police canine for the purpose of biting a subject whose location is known to
the handler which results in no injury to the subject.
LEVEL 4 FORCE INCIDENTS
(a) A level of force utilizing empty hand control techniques that does not result in injury or
continued complaint of pain and does not rise to a Level 3 response to resistance.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
1. Restricting a subjecťs movement by strength or body weight (to include resisted escorting or
handcuffing of a subject who is actively resisting arrest beyond the initial or reflexive stiffening
or pulling away of a person's arm(s) that officers commonly encounter during handcuffing).
2. Using leverage or strength to bring a subjects arms or legs together for the purposes of controlling,
handcuffing, or hobbling the subject (to include resisted control, handcuffing, hobbling when the
subject is actively resisting arrest beyond the initial or reflexive stiffening or pulling away of the
subject's arm(s) or leg(s) that officers commonly encounter during efforts to control, handcuff, or
hobble a subject).
3. Pressure point control tactics.
RESISTANCE- the following is pulled directly from APD's General Orders and describes types of
resistance encountered by officers.
200.3 RESISTANCE 2
In any force encounter, and regardless of the tool/weapon/tactic chosen by the officer, the officer's
decision to use the tool/weapon/tactic is dependent upon the suspect's level of resistance, the threat
reasonably posed by the suspect to the officer or another, and the totality of the circumstances known
to the officer at that time.
38
TYPES OF RESISTANCE:
No Resistance (Compliant) - A subject who does not resist and follows all commands is compliant.
Only a law enforcement officer's presence and verbal commands are required when dealing with
these subjects; no coercive physical contact is necessary.
Passive Resistance (Non-Compliant) - A passively resistant subject that fails to take voluntary
physical action to obey officer commands yet do not offer physical resistance when officers are
forced to take physical control of them due to non-compliance. An example would be a subject
going limp during an arrest. Among other things, General Orders do not allow for the use of a
Taser when the only resistance offered is passive resistance.
Defensive Resistance - Defensive resistance is voluntary physical movement and / or muscular
tension resistance by a subject that attempts to prevent the officer's control.
(a) This is the most common type of resistance encountered by officers.
(b) The situational context (totality of the circumstances) must be considered when determining
if a subject is defensively resisting or merely passively resisting. Likewise, the "totality of the
circumstances" must be considered when choosing which level of force is necessary to control
the situation, and prevent unnecessary harm.
(c) Examples of defensive resistance by a subject may include pulling away from the officer's grasp,
locking arms under their body, resisting handcuffing/frisk, fleeing from an officer, or evading arrest
by concealment
Aggressive Resistance - Aggressive resistance is an offensive action by the subject who attempts
to push, throw, strike, tackle, or physically harm the officer or another person. If the officer or
members of the public are threatened by the subject's actions, the officer must respond with
appropriate force to stop the attack and defend himself/herself or others.
Deadly Resistance - Deadly Resistance is an offensive action by the subject that could seriously
injure or kill the officer or another person if immediate action is not taken to stop the threat.
Preparatory Actions Indicating Greater Resistance - Although, on the surface, a suspect may
offer or exhibit behaviors associated with not being resistant or a lower level of resistance such
as "passive resistance," or "defensive resistance," the officer may also recognize the subject
ipreparing to offer greater resistance or launch an attack through specific, articulable behavioral
cues (verbal, non-verbal and/ or physical). Depending on the circumstances, certain forms of
passive resistance, such as verbal non-compliance and/or verbal threats, may be indicators the
subject is preparing for a higher level of resistance than is actually being displayed. The officer
must be prepared to adjust tactics and/or defend themselves from such a sudden change or attack.
Officers do not need to suffer an injury or wait for a physical attack to manifest itself before taking
actions to protect themselves or others.
TYPES OF INJURY:
Bodily Injury - Physical pain, illness or any impairment of physical condition.
Serious Bodily Injury - Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death,
serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily
member or organ.
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Appendix D
APD Sector Map
Д
GEORGE
(DTAC)
ADAM
(NORTHWEST)
B3
EDWARD
(NORTHEAST)
3
IDA
(NORTH-CENTRAL)
183
BAKER
35
(CENTRAL-WEST)
CHARLIE
(CENTRAL-EAST)
HENRY
DAVID
(SOUTH-CENTRAL)
(SOUTHWEST)
FRANK
(SOUTHEAST)
18.
LEU,