Reimagining Public Safety

The Reimagining Public Safety Initiative (RPS) is the City of Austin’s holistic approach to assessing and evolving public safety systems to meet current and future community needs equitably and efficiently for all Austinites.

RPS is grounded in the core values that everyone deserves to feel safe and have the most appropriate public safety resources to show up for them in their time of need.

RPS is also focused on leveraging City resources, beyond the scope of law enforcement, to design community centered interventions to reduce harm and address the root cause of systemic inequities which often lead to crime.

Reforms

In this historic moment, the City Manager and City Council have acted on a series of public safety changes.

Reform	Status
Police department budget	Budget Approved
Use of force policies, equipment & technology	In Progress
End racial disparities in policing	In Progress
Investigate racism within APD	In Progress
Sexual assault case investigation process	In Progress

Description

What's New

June 2022

On June 1, 2022, in a memo to Mayor and City Council, Rey Arellano, Assistant City Manager, Public Safety shared the findings detailed in an independent evaluator's review of Austin Police Department's handling of administrative investigations of complaints alleging bias or discrimination. Read the report.

May 2022

On May 23, 2022, An independent evaluator presented the results of its final assessment of the 144th Cadet Class at the Austin Police Department (APD) Training Academy. The pilot class was the first to complete revised training and curriculum implemented in June 2021. Watch the Presentation. Read the report. Read APD's new cadet class review protocol

March 2022

Police Chief Outlines Plan for Increased Sex Crimes Unit Training

On March 23, 2022, Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon updated City Council on APD's progress towards implementing recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to improve APD Sex Crime Unit training. The PERF recommendations, issued in June 2021, are an outcome related to City Council Resolution 20190131-077 focused on improving best practices and outcomes of sexual assault reporting, processing, investigations, and prosecutions. Read Chief Chacon's update memo.

Supplemental Report Provides Additional Analysis of APD Use of Force Cases

On March 16, 2022 Rey Arellano, Assistant City Manager, Public Safety, provided City Council with a supplemental report from Kroll Associates with additional statistical analyses related to arrests, the use of force and circumstances related to use of force involving people with behavioral or mental health issues. The additional data and response to City Council questions were a follow up to Kroll's January presentation outlining the findings of its final evaluation of APD Use of Force / Public Interactions / Recruitment, Selection, and Promotion. Read the supplemental report.

February 2022

Next Police Cadet Class On Track to be Most Diverse in Austin’s History

Austin Police Department (APD) is moving ahead with the 145^th cadet class following a successful pilot of a new curriculum and the graduation of 66 new officers as part of the 144^th class of the training academy in January 2022. The next class, which is scheduled to start in March, could be the most diverse in APD’s history. Class training will incorporate curriculum changes recommended by independent consultants. Read More.

January 2022

Report offers 'Roadmap' to addressing inequities in Austin Policing

The City of Austin released the second part (Phase B) of an independent analysis studying the impact of racism, discrimination, bigotry, and bias on Austin Police Department (APD) culture, policies, and practices. The 14-month review conducted by Kroll Associates (Kroll), centered on three priority areas:

Use of force: Analyzing four years of use of force incident data.
Public interaction with civilians: Analyzing traffic stops, arrests, citations, and searches.
Recruitment, selection, and promotion policies and practices.