Never miss a story
Sign up for our free daily morning email...
...and afternoon text update
×
Featured
austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
Most viewed
A hate crime was reported in West Campus by The University of Texas at Austin
Anti-semitic graffiti has been reported at 2501 Leon St.
The University of Texas Police Department released an incident report that the hate crime took place at 10 p.m. Jan. 10. UTPD has not revealed any suspects involved, and is asking for tips on the incident.
This comes just over one week after Americans bearing white supremacist symbolism stormed the U.S. Capitol. The FBI released a bulletin on Monday informing the public of nationwide protests which are expected to take place from Jan. 16 through President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Popular
(Shutterstock)
Two new reports detail racial inequities at the Austin Police Department and raise concerns about the department's "paramilitary" approach to training cadets, including allegations of hazing.
<p>The reports were conducted by separate independent consultant groups with guidance from the city's equity office and built on findings of past investigations into allegations of racism within the department, <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-investigation" target="_self">such as the Tatum report</a>, and misconduct at the training academy, which has come under fire <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-state-legislature" target="_blank">in recent years</a> for its "fear-based" approach, discriminatory recruiting practices and attrition rates. </p><p><strong>The reports</strong> </p><p>The Peace Mill report evaluated the department for equity and found "significant racial and gender disparities" in the standards and practices of APD's training and recruiting divisions. These include: <br/></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Only one Black employee out of the division's 57 employees </li><li>Black male cadets graduated from the training academy at a rate of 48.5%, compared to 81.6% for white male cadets</li><li>Black cadets were also more likely to leave the academy or sustain an injury than any other racial group</li><li>Academy culture "prioritizes physical aggressive above all else"</li><li>Cadets reported that training staff "refused water to dehydrated cadets," told cadets to target homeless individuals for various citations when "'having a slow day'" and employed training tactics "described … as 'worse than anything I went through in (US military training])"</li></ul><p>Peace Mill, which is led by public policy researcher and LBJ School of Public Affairs graduate student Raymon Weyandt, recommended that the city suspend all future cadet classes until APD's training division can be reformed and rebuilt. </p><p>The academy is currently on hold after Austin City Council voted unanimously to cancel funding for three planned cadet classes in August as part of a broader set of police reforms enacted in response to mass protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Council members cited concerns about the training academy's curriculum, among other factors.</p><p>Last month, however, Austin Mayor Steve Adler expressed hope that certain reforms could be implemented in time for a future cadet class in the short term. "I still think there's a critical role for police in our community, even reimagined," he said during a Dec. 9 work session. "I, for one, would like the process to move quickly so as to allow for a cadet class in a spring."</p><p>The second report, by Round Rock-based group Joyce James Consulting, identified:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>A last of trust in APD leadership to handle issues related to race, gender and sexual orientation</li><li>Widening racial disparities in stops, citations, arrests, searches and use-of-force incidents</li><li>A "paramilitary format" at the police academy and weaknesses in its "structure, culture, curriculum, and teaching effectiveness"</li></ul><p>"There have been so many studies already done that we felt it would be important for us to do a comprehensive review of all of those reports," President and CEO Joyce James told the city's public safety commission Monday. "What we found in those reports, they all pretty much have the same theme.</p><p><strong>The response</strong></p><p>APD responded to the reports in a statement shared with Austonia, which read in part: "We strive to be an organization that promotes diversity, inclusion and equity for all populations. The Department will continue efforts to make improvements to policies, practices, and training that allow everyone in Austin to feel safe and protected." </p><p>Austin Police Association Ken Casaday <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/city-reports-allege-militarized-mindset-in-austin-police-academy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told KXAN</a> that the reports don't acknowledge the improvements made to the APD training academy in the last few years and said cadets need to be put in "high-stress situations" so as to be prepared for the job. </p><p>APA has been critical of the council's decision to cut APD funding and suspend the training academy. </p><p>The first of the canceled classes would have been APD's first with a majority of minority candidates, according to the union. "We are so proud of the great work our recruiting unit did to produce these numbers," APA wrote in an Aug. 14 Facebook post. "Unfortunately, this city council has destroyed the hard work done by (the) recruiting (division)."</p><p>Criminal justice reform advocates argue that the reports add to the serious concerns already raised about the training academy and police department.</p><p>Scott Hensen, executive director of the criminal justice reform nonprofit Just Liberty and author of the Grits for Breakfast blog, <a href="https://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2021/01/shocking-allegations-of-hazing-and.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">wrote on Saturday</a> that the Peace Mill report "should put an end to discussions of restarting the police academy any time soon." He added: "We're only beginning to understand the depths of problems at the academy, which start with agency leadership. They won't be fixed overnight." </p><p>The city's equity office will follow up with APD leadership later this month and next to address the reports' findings.</p><p>Meanwhile, APD remains under scrutiny.</p><p> A community is reviewing training videos used by the training academy and is scheduled to submit its findings to the city <a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/01/04/reports-question-treatment-black-cadets-austin-police-academy/4129445001/" target="_blank">later this month</a>. Council members also approved a contract with <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-audit" target="_self">another independent consulting firm</a> in November to investigate APD following an anonymous complaint alleging that an assistant chief used racist language. Findings are expected by the end of this year.</p><p>The Texas Legislative Council has also drafted language for a proposed law that would transfer control of APD to the state, a move that Gov. Greg Abbott has said he supports. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- City Manager to outline plans for change at Austin Police Department ›
- Voting on the funding of the Austin police department - austonia ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests ... ›
- What the future holds for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley - austonia ›
- Two days of protest: demonstrators shut down I-35, Austin police ... ›
Keep Reading
Show less
Mike Ramos' mother sues for wrongful death by Austin police
31 December 2020
(Christa McWhirter)
Austin Police Department headquarters barricaded during the BLM protests.
Brenda Ramos, mother of the man who was shot and killed by APD Officer Christopher Taylor, has filed a lawsuit against the officer and the City of Austin.
<p>The fatal shooting took place on April 24 when APD officers responded to a call that Mike Ramos had a gun. Despite the claim in the call and the subsequent use of deadly force, no weapons were found. </p><p>His mother filed the suit on Wednesday evening and claims Taylor killed her son without justification. The suit also accuses the city of harboring an "institutionally racist and aggressive policing culture."</p><p>In the lawsuit, Brenda Ramos also references the bodycam footage depicting the APD officers shouting conflicting orders such as, "walk towards us" but then telling her son to "turn around," while another officer yells "put your hands up." She calls the incident "a gross civil rights violation."</p><p>She is asking for a jury trial and suing for damages including the funeral expenses for her only son. </p><p>Brenda Ramos has been vocal about her search for justice since the April shooting. She has called for criminal convictions of the officers and a grand jury trial but this is the first time she has filed a lawsuit.</p><p>Mike Ramos became a prominent figure during the Black Lives Matter movement in Austin this summer. As protests were initially sparked in the wake of George Floyd's death, community members were quick to shift the focus to the people who have had similar deaths in their own city.</p><p><span></span>Current Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore has announced that the case will not go to a grand jury until her successor, Jose Garza steps into the role on Jan. 1.<br/></p><p>After his win in November, Garza has stated that Mike Ramos' case will be the first he addresses as the new district attorney.</p>
From Your Site Articles
Keep Reading
Show less
Early voting for the Austin City Council Districts 6 and 10 runoff elections begins today
03 December 2020
(Bob Daemmrich)
Early voting begins Thursday and runs through Friday, Dec. 11 for the Dec. 15 runoff election.
Here's everything you need to know before you vote, including which races are on the ballot and where to cast yours.
<p>In Texas, candidates must win at least 50% of the vote to be elected. In races where the top candidate only receives a plurality of votes, a runoff is held. </p><p>During the Nov. 3 election, four local races prompted runoffs: those for Austin City Council's Districts 6 and 10 and Austin ISD's District 5 and At-large Place 8.</p><p>Early voters can cast their ballots from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. A list of early polling places can be found <a href="https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/images/pdfs/polling_locations/2020.12.15/EV_sites_flyer.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>The two most closely followed local races are on Austin City Council, where two incumbents face conservative challengers. City council seats are nonpartisan, although all current members are affiliated with the Democratic Party.</p><p>In District 6, Council Member <a href="http://www.jimmyflannigan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jimmy Flannigan</a> is running against <a href="https://mackenzieforaustin.com/?fbclid=IwAR1MDZVnaWY-O9akXaHpOxoHyxDpQ2gSlooRm8rKhhddFH09UM-zeXMEY2M" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mackenzie Kelly</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY3MDYwNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODM3MDA1MX0.aWs8HiZZ56FGic39_BpBtyY3jBy6vqclWFg8QBXjOO8/img.png?width=980" target="_blank"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="01398a4015320393e4ba69224d8a0324" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="0c5de" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY3MDYwNS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODM3MDA1MX0.aWs8HiZZ56FGic39_BpBtyY3jBy6vqclWFg8QBXjOO8/img.png?width=980"/></a>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
(City of Austin, Mackenzie Kelly for Austin City Counil/Facebook)
</small>
</p><p><br/></p><p>Flannigan won more than 40% of the votes during the Nov. 3 election, compared to Kelly's 33%.<br/></p><p>Flannigan's platform includes plans to address the pandemic, Austin's affordability crisis, traffic congestion and public safety reform. As a council member, he voted in favor of cutting the Austin Police Department's budget and other police reforms; overturning the city's camping ban; and Project Connect, a $7.1 billion transit system overhaul. </p><p>Kelly is a client care manager who ran against Flannigan in 2014 and opposes recent cuts to the police department budget and council's decision to overturn the city's camping ban. Her endorsements include Travis County GOP Chairperson Matt Mackowiak and former Austin City Council Member Ellen Troxclair. </p><p>Last month, Flannigan <a href="https://austonia.com/jimmy-flannigan-accosted" target="_self">was accosted</a> by members of the Wind Therapy Freedom Riders motorcycle group, of which at least one member had a "white power" symbol on their bike, according to his campaign.</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7667d5c32233d5a1f00d42820ea37fc4" id="6c7c4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1330263823098515460"><div style="margin:1em 0">This is the harassment my opponents think is ok... this is the attacks and intimidation my opponents think is ok.… https://t.co/MIpB7FdQck</div> — Jimmy Flannigan (@Jimmy Flannigan)<a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyFlannigan/statuses/1330263823098515460">1605994585.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Flannigan decried the harassment and his opponent's refusal to disavow the group. "This style of political intimidation will continue if it wins elections," he told Austonia, linking the incident to another one that occurred in early November, when Kelly was photographed with members of the Wind Therapy Freedom Riders, supporters of President Donald Trump, APD officers and protesters who displayed white supremacist hand signals.<br/></p><p>The city of Austin and League of Women Voters Austin Area co-hosted a candidate forum on Nov. 30, which can be viewed <a href="https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/107670" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>In District 10, Council Member <a href="https://www.alisonalter.com/" target="_blank">Alison Alter</a> is running against <a href="https://www.jenniferforaustin.com/" target="_blank">Jennifer Virden</a>.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a9c44c4295d038c22c4501df82385508" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="1bf01" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDg1ODYyNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTQwMzk0MX0.AzeJ7Utdlp-DP9qmC-GNQXPm2WPa8LN6J2uClDNml8E/img.png?width=980"/>
</p><p><br/></p><p>Alter faced six challengers during the Nov. 3 election and received the most votes, with 34% cast in her favor. She describes herself as a progressive Democrat and has spent her time on council advocating for preservationist land use policies and parks. She voted to cut APD's budget but opposed its decision to overturn the camping ban.<br/></p><p>Virden, a real estate broker and general contractor, earned 25% of the vote last month. She opposes Project Connect, council's decision to overturn the camping ban and any effort to defund the police. </p><p>Alter's husband, University of Texas at Austin professor Jeremy Suri, appeared to call Virden unqualified and racist in a tweet on Tuesday, prompting the candidate to respond that he was "classless."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="78de03272c0a5da8e1e657584f753a40" id="fd299"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1333946244532723714"><div style="margin:1em 0">I guess, when backed into a corner, Alison Alter will have her husband claim I'm a racist instead of talking about… https://t.co/8Adc2zsrjj</div> — Jennifer Virden for Austin City Council D10 (@Jennifer Virden for Austin City Council D10)<a href="https://twitter.com/Jennifer4Austin/statuses/1333946244532723714">1606872542.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The Nov. 30 candidate forum can be viewed <a href="https://austintx.new.swagit.com/videos/107673" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>Elected council members will be tasked with rewriting the <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-land-use-code-rewrite" target="_blank">city's land use code</a>, considering <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-audit" target="_blank">further cuts to APD's budget</a> and implementing <a href="https://austonia.com/why-project-connect-passed" target="_blank">the Project Connect plan</a>.<br/></p><p>Election Day is Tuesday, Dec. 15. A list of polling places can be found <a href="http://austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=350620" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>; they will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Jimmy Flannigan leads in the Austin City Council District 6 race ... ›
- Early voting: Alison Alter leads in crowded race for Austin City ... ›
- Austin City Council challengers get big bucks boost - austonia ›
- City of Austin to host candidate forums ahead of runoff - austonia ›
- Guide to Austin City Council Districts 6, 10 runoff elections - austonia ›
- Where to vote in Travis County on runoff Election Day - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
