November 18, 2025
APD Response to APO, Officer Avery Zucchi
In response to Austin Police Oversight's recommendation that Officer Avery Zucchi receive a written reprimand for violating Austin Police Department (APD) policy, Police Chief Lisa Davis disagrees. APD’s Vehicular Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs determined that another vehicle caused the crash by failing to yield, and Officer Zucchi took multiple precautions prior to the crash.
Read Austin Police Oversight's recommendation here: https://www.austintexas.gov/document/apo-recommendation-case-2025-0204-officer-avery-zucchi
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APD Response to APO, Officer Avery Zucchi260.75 KBPDF Content
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Austin
MEMORANDUM
To:
Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight Director
From:
Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department Chief of Police
Date:
November 18, 2025
Subject:
Response to OPO IAD 2025-0204 - Ofc. Avery Zucchi #10051
A thorough investigation of this incident was conducted by both the Austin Police Department's
Vehicular Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs. After review of the incident, it was determined that
Officer Zucchi was not at fault for the crash. Another vehicle failed to yield the right of way to Officer
Zucchi, who was responding with lights and siren to an emergency call for service involving a subject
with a gun threatening to shoot another subject. This other vehicle also violated Austin City
Ordinance 12-1-24, which prohibits turning left from a private drive. In addition, it should be noted
that vehicles making right turns must turn into the outside lane of traffic in Texas (Transportation
Code 545.01). Officer Zucchi was traveling in the inside lane. A reasonable officer would have
believed that another vehicle would yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle, as required by
Texas Transportation Code 545.156, and if not, at least not pull into the inside lane to make a left or
right turn. While it is recognized that police officers must drive with care for others, they cannot
always avoid crashes.
In this incident, Officer Zucchi took multiple precautions, such as driving in the inside lane, operating
with lights and siren, and utilizing his horn to differentiate the siren sound, and applying his brakes
prior to the crash. Lastly, it should be noted that the speed to which an officer responds to a call is
highly dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to road conditions, time of day,
level of traffic, driver capabilities, weather, and the nature of the call.
This call for service warranted a "Code 3" response and it was not the driving actions of Officer
Zucchi that caused the crash. Facts uncovered during the VHU and IA investigation and subsequent
review by the chain of command did not identify Officer Zucchi engaged in misconduct and or
violated APD policy.
LAD / mec
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Austin
MEMORANDUM
To:
Gail McCant, Office of Police Oversight Director
From:
Lisa Davis, Austin Police Department Chief of Police
Date:
November 18, 2025
Subject:
Response to OPO IAD 2025-0204 - Ofc. Avery Zucchi #10051
A thorough investigation of this incident was conducted by both the Austin Police Department's
Vehicular Homicide Unit and Internal Affairs. After review of the incident, it was determined that
Officer Zucchi was not at fault for the crash. Another vehicle failed to yield the right of way to Officer
Zucchi, who was responding with lights and siren to an emergency call for service involving a subject
with a gun threatening to shoot another subject. This other vehicle also violated Austin City
Ordinance 12-1-24, which prohibits turning left from a private drive. In addition, it should be noted
that vehicles making right turns must turn into the outside lane of traffic in Texas (Transportation
Code 545.01). Officer Zucchi was traveling in the inside lane. A reasonable officer would have
believed that another vehicle would yield the right of way to the emergency vehicle, as required by
Texas Transportation Code 545.156, and if not, at least not pull into the inside lane to make a left or
right turn. While it is recognized that police officers must drive with care for others, they cannot
always avoid crashes.
In this incident, Officer Zucchi took multiple precautions, such as driving in the inside lane, operating
with lights and siren, and utilizing his horn to differentiate the siren sound, and applying his brakes
prior to the crash. Lastly, it should be noted that the speed to which an officer responds to a call is
highly dependent on a number of factors, including but not limited to road conditions, time of day,
level of traffic, driver capabilities, weather, and the nature of the call.
This call for service warranted a "Code 3" response and it was not the driving actions of Officer
Zucchi that caused the crash. Facts uncovered during the VHU and IA investigation and subsequent
review by the chain of command did not identify Officer Zucchi engaged in misconduct and or
violated APD policy.
LAD / mec
Page 1 of 2
Date:
Month Date, Year
Subject:
Sample Subject
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