BG Blog: A Deeper Look At Austin’s Police Chief Search
The search for Austin’s next police chief officially began with the posting of the position on May 15, 2024. at posting, closes today (June 10, 2024).
Austin’s search for a new police chief comes at an interesting time for the city, which is seeking to bring some long-term stability to the Austin Police Department following years of changeover and turmoil in its top law enforcement position.
Pressures within the community will play a large role in how the new chief defines what modern policing looks like in a major American city.
The next chief will need to balance ensuring public safety and fostering community trust, against staffing and budget challenges and the possibility of changes in law at the state level that could impact the expectations and resources available to local police.
It’s important to note that the selection of a new police chief will be the first major responsibility for new city manager T.C. Broadnax, who has been in the position for less than a month following his departure as Dallas’ city manager.
Broadnax listed the police chief job and pursuit of a long-term contract with APD staff as his top two priorities, which shows he plans to put considerable time and energy into the city’s public safety apparatus.
For context, Broadnax appears to have done well in finding a suitable police chief in Dallas, as the city recently extended chief Eddie Garcia’s contract to prevent him from being lured to another city - including Austin - that is on the search for a new chief.
The Opportunity in Austin
For those considering the role of Austin's next police chief, the job posting notes explicitly the need to be aware of and able to work in service of the goals of equity in relation to providing public safety.
From the posting: “The next Chief should have a sound understanding of the history of institutional racism in policing and work to continue to provide public safety services in an equitable manner. The Chief should be a vocal proponent for diversity, equity, and inclusion and should continually work to make the Austin Police Department representative of the community that it serves.”
The new chief will need to be a resilient leader who can build on the foundation of previous chiefs while navigating the complexities of modern policing demands.
The city seeks a leader who can:
Foster strong community relationships and build trust across diverse groups.
Navigate the intricacies of state legislation and local expectations.
Lead with a commitment to reform and accountability, particularly in training, use of force, and handling of critical incidents.
Address staffing challenges while enhancing officer well-being and professional development.
Leadership Through Turmoil and Change
The tenure of Brian Manley, who served as Austin’s Police Chief from 2018 to 2021, was marked by significant challenges. Manley’s leadership came under intense scrutiny following the shooting of Mike Ramos and the controversial use of less-lethal rounds during the protests following George Floyd's death in 2020.
These incidents spurred widespread calls for reform, leading to a unanimous vote of no confidence by the Austin City Council in the police leadership's ability to implement necessary changes.
The community's outcry led to substantial budget cuts, reallocating funds towards housing and mental health services, significantly impacting the department's operations.
Following Manley’s retirement, Joseph Chacon took the reins as interim chief, later assuming the role permanently until his recent retirement announcement in August 2023. Chacon, a veteran of the APD since 1998, faced ongoing challenges, including a shortage of patrol officers and issues within the Sex Crimes Unit. Despite efforts to implement reforms, such as adjusting the training academy to cultivate a "guardian" mindset among officers, significant resistance continued.
The city has operated with Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson running the department since Chacon departed. She stated in a memo last week, that she did not apply for the position and intends to retire once a new permanent chief is hired.
Legislative Responses and Evolving Policing Strategies
The landscape of law enforcement in Texas has seen notable legislative changes aimed at reforming police operations. The enactment of the George Floyd Act Bills and Botham Jean Act (Bo’s Law) represents significant strides towards accountability and transparency.
These bills require law enforcement agencies to adopt de-escalation-focused use-of-force policies and ensure that body cameras remain activated during investigations.
Moreover, the state’s response to movements advocating for reduced police funding has led to new legislation penalizing cities that cut police budgets, directly affecting Austin. In recent years, the City Council came under heavy criticism for moving some funding away from APD toward other city departments and organizations seen as better able to carry out those functions.
Those allocations have mostly been reversed based on the city’s most recent budget, though there is an ongoing effort to increase enrollment and graduation at the police cadet academy to address a large number of departures from the department in recent years.
Integrating Mental Health, and Responding to New Challenges
Since 2021, Austin has integrated mental health services into emergency responses, a progressive move reflecting a shift towards more comprehensive and sensitive handling of incidents. This integration is crucial as the city, like many others across Texas, faces a rise in mass shootings following the enactment of the permitless carry law.
Also, the city took criticism in 2023 for twice engaging with Texas State Police to secure additional patrolling of city streets at a time when APD lacked the needed number of officers to carry out patrol duties along with other needed services. Data from the state officers’ activities showed a disproportionate level of arrests of people of color, which clashed with the equity-minded approach the city has preferred. The city has indicated no further plans to retain state police for patrolling needs.
Also, interim city manager Jesús Garza made the controversial decision in early 2024 to bring on former APD chief Art Acevedo as a consultant to oversee special areas of concern within the department. That move caused a high level of backlash from the community because of concerns over police violence and the handling of the department’s crime lab during his tenure as chief from 2007 to 2016. Acevedo ultimately declined to take the consultancy role, leaving the new chief with the responsibility and opportunity to shape the department more fully to their vision.
Certainty And Stability
With the position now closed to potential applicants, the city is expected to have its list of finalists announced fairly quickly. The public can learn much about Broadnax’s approach to high-profile hirings based on how he and search firm Mosaic Public Partners decide to roll out the info.
With the city and community placing a lot of importance on transparency and feedback, the vetting and interview process will likely have to include some public input component so residents will get some familiarity with the new chief. If done well, the hiring could bring some stability to the department and close a period of prolonged uncertainty and turnover for the city’s primary public safety entity.
//A.J. Bingham, Founder & CEO, Bingham Group, LLC
Questions or Comments? Email at -> aj@binghamgp.com