APD and DPS partnership briefed for first time at Austin Metropolis Council assembly

Almost a month after the Austin Police Division and the Texas Division of Public Security shaped a partnership behind closed doorways, Austinites got a briefing protecting the logistics of the deployment at Tuesday’s Austin Metropolis Council work session.

Because of a scarcity in cops within the area, the town of Austin partnered with DPS final month to usher in state troopers to briefly offset wants. Nevertheless, members of the Metropolis Council have questioned the choice to deliver DPS into Austin as they weren’t concerned in conversations in regards to the settlement, leaving considerations over the policing powers state troopers maintain.

The livestreamed session was the council’s alternative to be taught in regards to the specifics of DPS’ deployment and to precise their considerations with the dearth of transparency going into the partnership.

District Two Council Member Vanessa Fuentes stated neighborhood considerations stem from a ignorance, lack of involvement from neighborhood representatives and lack of demographic statistics detailing who’s being stopped by DPS troopers and why.

“As a metropolis council member, I used to be not concerned in any dialog about that partnership,” Fuentes stated. “I realized about it simply an hour earlier than it went public.”

APD Chief of Police Joseph Chacon stated he’s working in shut collaboration with DPS Regional Director Vincent Luciano, and the partnership goals to primarily goal visitors enforcement and violent offenses, notably these involving weapons. Chacon additionally stated each companies are topic to the identical state and federal coaching.

“It’s my accountability to guarantee that we preserve the security on this metropolis, and so I wish to be certain it’s performed the suitable means,” Chacon stated through the session.

APD Chief Knowledge Officer Dr. Jonathan Kringen stated violent crimes have decreased by 58% in areas DPS has been deployed in comparison with the identical time final yr.

“We’ve seen a discount in violent crime. We’ve seen a discount within the variety of requires service for help associated to violent crime, and we see that we’re arriving extra rapidly to reply when a violent crime happens,” Kringen stated through the session.

Kringen couldn’t present any information concerning demographics in regards to the race, gender, age, citizenship standing and district of residence of individuals stopped by DPS throughout visitors stops. Underneath Texas’ racial profiling legislation, companies are required to report on a yearly foundation the demographics of the people stopped, however this legislation doesn’t require the info to be made accessible on a steady foundation.

District 9 Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri requested for this information particularly and stated through the session that neighborhood members throughout East Austin felt as if they had been being stopped by DPS officers at a disproportionate charge.

Chacon stated the requested demographic information was held solely by DPS officers however that he would work to make it accessible to the general public, additionally suggesting that DPS officers have expressed curiosity in talking earlier than the council.

“We’re nonetheless lacking lots of data, so I counsel that neighborhood members keep vigilant and keep protected,” Fuentes stated. “I’ve little question that the patrols are working with the intention of preserving Austinites protected, however that doesn’t imply that there can’t or received’t be unintended penalties.”