City of Austin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASERelease Date:
Contact: Public Information Office 512-974-5017 Email
It is the policy of the Austin Police Department (APD) that video evidence in the Department's possession pertaining to critical incidents involving APD will be released to the public within 60 days of the incident(s), unless the Chief determines that a delay is needed to address investigative, prosecutorial, or privacy interests. The definition of “critical incidents” includes a use of force resulting in serious bodily injury as defined by Section 1.07 of the Texas Penal Code.
In consultation with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, the videos related to the critical incidents from the recent protest-related uses of force will not be released during the initial 60-day timeframe because doing so could potentially impact the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigations into the incidents. APD investigators are working diligently with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, as applicable, to review hundreds of complaints, videos, reports, and supplements related to the various uses of force from the protests. Additionally, investigators are in the process of scheduling and conducting interviews with the involved officers, complainants, and witnesses. The primary reason for the delayed release of the relevant videos is the fact that investigators have not had the opportunity to interview all of the key witnesses or involved personnel identified during the course of the respective investigations.
The circumstances prohibiting the immediate release of the videos will be reassessed within the next 30 days. We anticipate the videos will be available for release at a future date.