April 10, 2025
Health and Safety Curriculum Recommendations
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of the Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. The OPO recommends changes to APD's Health and Safety Code curriculum, recommending the removal of specific unprofessional presentation slides from the Basic Peace Officer Course materials, as they undermine the professionalism of the training and reinforce negative stereotypes. OPO also believes it is crucial that the training include explanations beyond guilt or intoxication for nervous behaviors during interactions with law enforcement.
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P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
April 14, 2025
SUBJECT:
Health and Safety
Dear Chief Davis:
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of the
Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. OPO's Policy Compliance
Consultant is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), which is responsible for
reviewing, evaluating, and providing feedback for improvement.
In addition to the subject matter experts hired by APD, the OPO has reviewed APD's curriculum for
the Health and Safety Code and provided the following recommendations for improvement:
Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC)
Chapter 15: Texas laws pertaining to the Health and Safety Code and controlled substances.
1. The PowerPoint presentation provided by the APD Academy uses multiple images that are
unsuitable for a professional setting and do not benefit the context of the course. After the PAC
group discussion, it was clear that the images were an overall attempt at levity. Considering the
serious nature of the material, it is not appropriate to have images utilized in this way. It is most
critical to educate and guide APD cadets with material that can inform them; not provide levity
in matters they will encounter. The visual content throughout the presentation is discourteous,
stereotypical and unprofessional.
OPO objects to the use of the following slides and recommends that the images used in this
unprofessional manner be removed:
The slide regarding the delivery of controlled substances to minors features a digitally
altered image of a baby wearing a marijuana hat and smoking a marijuana cigarette.
There are several slides that do not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforce
negative stereotypes, such as a Black man with a pick in his hair holding crack cocaine
while making a funny face at the camera.
There are several slides that do not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforce
negative stereotypes, such as a Black man holding a joint and looking cross-eyed.
In another slide that also does not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforces
negative stereotypes is the slide discussing steroids, which includes an image of a female
bodybuilder used to depict steroid use.
1
OF
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 | FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
1839
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20P0
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
The final slide recommended for removal is in the section that discusses drug
paraphernalia; there is a picture of a teenage boy smoking some type of substance out of
an Xbox game controller that was fashioned into a pipe.
Unit Goal: Narcotic interdiction/investigation techniques and procedures
BPOC (Basic Peace Officer Course) 15.13
Identify the incidence of drug interdiction and common characteristics of drug smugglers and
their vehicles.
Actions of the driver
Nervousness
Fidgeting
F
Eye contact
From drug interdiction incidents to routine patrol, always be observant. Keep eyes, ears, and
nose open, in addition to asking questions.
2. The OPO agrees with the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) that it is crucial to explore possible
factors, other than guilt or being under the influence, that may explain why an individual
appears nervous during an interaction with law enforcement. These factors could include
a
speech-language disorder, certain cognitive disorders, or even a prior negative experience with
law enforcement.
The Office of Police Oversight appreciates the chance to offer constructive feedback on the Austin
Police Department's academy curriculum, recognizing that there is room for improvement. We look
forward to ongoing collaboration on current and future curriculum development to ensure
continuous improvement and effectiveness.
Sincerely,
Dail
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
2
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20PO
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
April 14, 2025
SUBJECT:
Health and Safety
Dear Chief Davis:
The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is collaborating with the Educational Development Unit of the
Austin Police Department (APD) to enhance the academy's curriculum. OPO's Policy Compliance
Consultant is a member of the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC), which is responsible for
reviewing, evaluating, and providing feedback for improvement.
In addition to the subject matter experts hired by APD, the OPO has reviewed APD's curriculum for
the Health and Safety Code and provided the following recommendations for improvement:
Basic Peace Officer Course (BPOC)
Chapter 15: Texas laws pertaining to the Health and Safety Code and controlled substances.
1. The PowerPoint presentation provided by the APD Academy uses multiple images that are
unsuitable for a professional setting and do not benefit the context of the course. After the PAC
group discussion, it was clear that the images were an overall attempt at levity. Considering the
serious nature of the material, it is not appropriate to have images utilized in this way. It is most
critical to educate and guide APD cadets with material that can inform them; not provide levity
in matters they will encounter. The visual content throughout the presentation is discourteous,
stereotypical and unprofessional.
OPO objects to the use of the following slides and recommends that the images used in this
unprofessional manner be removed:
The slide regarding the delivery of controlled substances to minors features a digitally
altered image of a baby wearing a marijuana hat and smoking a marijuana cigarette.
There are several slides that do not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforce
negative stereotypes, such as a Black man with a pick in his hair holding crack cocaine
while making a funny face at the camera.
There are several slides that do not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforce
negative stereotypes, such as a Black man holding a joint and looking cross-eyed.
In another slide that also does not contribute to the learning objectives and reinforces
negative stereotypes is the slide discussing steroids, which includes an image of a female
bodybuilder used to depict steroid use.
1
OF
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
CITY
OFFICE OF
WWW.ATXPOLICEOVERSIGHT.ORG
POLICEOVERSIGHT@AUSTINTEXAS.GOV
POLICE OVERSIGHT
PHONE: 512.974.9090 | TTY: 711 | FAX: 512.974.6306
FOUNDED
1839
COMPLAINT HOTLINE: 512-972-20P0
ACADEMY CURRICULUM RECOMMENDATION
The final slide recommended for removal is in the section that discusses drug
paraphernalia; there is a picture of a teenage boy smoking some type of substance out of
an Xbox game controller that was fashioned into a pipe.
Unit Goal: Narcotic interdiction/investigation techniques and procedures
BPOC (Basic Peace Officer Course) 15.13
Identify the incidence of drug interdiction and common characteristics of drug smugglers and
their vehicles.
Actions of the driver
Nervousness
Fidgeting
F
Eye contact
From drug interdiction incidents to routine patrol, always be observant. Keep eyes, ears, and
nose open, in addition to asking questions.
2. The OPO agrees with the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) that it is crucial to explore possible
factors, other than guilt or being under the influence, that may explain why an individual
appears nervous during an interaction with law enforcement. These factors could include
a
speech-language disorder, certain cognitive disorders, or even a prior negative experience with
law enforcement.
The Office of Police Oversight appreciates the chance to offer constructive feedback on the Austin
Police Department's academy curriculum, recognizing that there is room for improvement. We look
forward to ongoing collaboration on current and future curriculum development to ensure
continuous improvement and effectiveness.
Sincerely,
Dail
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
2