March 27, 2025
OPO Recommendation: Revise Form PD0007 - Supervisory Referral Form
This memorandum provides feedback on the Austin Police Department's (APD) Supervisory Referral Form PD0007. It highlights that some complaints processed as Supervisor Referrals are closed without direct conversations between the complainant and APD supervisors due to blocked phone numbers with no caller ID, discouraging responses. The Office of Police Oversight recommends that APD revise the form to include checkboxes confirming whether a voicemail with necessary information was left if a supervisor couldn't reach the complainant.
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CITY
STUDENT
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
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
RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
March 27, 2025
SUBJECT:
OPO Recommendation to Revise Form PD0007 - Supervisory Referral Form
Dear Chief Davis:
This memorandum is to provide feedback and recommendations for improving the Austin Police
Department's (APD) Supervisory Referral Form PD0007.
The OPO has received feedback from complainants that their complaints processed as a Supervisor
Referral (SR) are being closed by APD without direct conversation with an APD supervisor. This is
occurring because some supervisors are blocking their phone numbers, preventing them from appearing
on the complainant's Caller ID. When phone numbers are blocked or marked "private" on caller ID, it
may discourage complainants from answering the call. Additionally, complainants report that when the
number is blocked, no voicemail message is left to let them know who called or why.
Not all complaints received by the OPO require a full IAD Administrative Investigation. The OPO
encourages APD to embrace the opportunity to foster positive community interactions when
complainants simply request an APD supervisor to contact them to address their concerns via a phone
conversation.
The OPO recommends APD revise the Supervisory Referral Form PD0007 to include the following
required checkboxes when no direct conversation is had with the complainant:
Voice Message received:
Left name and title
Noted purpose for call
Provided direct re-contact information
1839
This proposed change will allow the Office of Police Oversight to proactively provide status updates to
complainants when they contact OPO. I appreciate the collaborative relationship we share and the
opportunity to provide input on APD's policies and practices that may benefit both the community and
APD.
Sincerely,
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
1
CITY
STUDENT
P.O. BOX 1088, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78767
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
RECOMMENDATION
TO:
Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department
FROM:
Director Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight
DATE:
March 27, 2025
SUBJECT:
OPO Recommendation to Revise Form PD0007 - Supervisory Referral Form
Dear Chief Davis:
This memorandum is to provide feedback and recommendations for improving the Austin Police
Department's (APD) Supervisory Referral Form PD0007.
The OPO has received feedback from complainants that their complaints processed as a Supervisor
Referral (SR) are being closed by APD without direct conversation with an APD supervisor. This is
occurring because some supervisors are blocking their phone numbers, preventing them from appearing
on the complainant's Caller ID. When phone numbers are blocked or marked "private" on caller ID, it
may discourage complainants from answering the call. Additionally, complainants report that when the
number is blocked, no voicemail message is left to let them know who called or why.
Not all complaints received by the OPO require a full IAD Administrative Investigation. The OPO
encourages APD to embrace the opportunity to foster positive community interactions when
complainants simply request an APD supervisor to contact them to address their concerns via a phone
conversation.
The OPO recommends APD revise the Supervisory Referral Form PD0007 to include the following
required checkboxes when no direct conversation is had with the complainant:
Voice Message received:
Left name and title
Noted purpose for call
Provided direct re-contact information
1839
This proposed change will allow the Office of Police Oversight to proactively provide status updates to
complainants when they contact OPO. I appreciate the collaborative relationship we share and the
opportunity to provide input on APD's policies and practices that may benefit both the community and
APD.
Sincerely,
Gail McCant
Director
Office of Police Oversight
1