[Virtual Media Availability with Acting Police Chief and Austin City Manager Virtual News Conference]
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WELCOME TO OUR VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY.
I'M OFFICER KEVIN CRUZAN WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, AND I WILL BE THE MODERATOR FOR TODAY'S EVENT.
SPANISH INTERPRETATION OF THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY IS ON ATX N THREE.
AS YOU MAY KNOW, LAST WEEK, JOSEPH
CHIEF CHECK ON AND CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN A MEDIA AVAILABILITY TO DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF APD.
HE MANAGERS, SPENCER CRONK WILL SHARE A MESSAGE AFTER CITY MANAGER CRUNK CONCLUDES CHIEF CHACAN WILL DISCUSS HIS NEW ROLE AT THE HELM OF APD.
CHIEF CHECKOUT WILL GIVE REMARKS IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
AFTER WE WRAP UP WITH OUR SPEAKERS, WE WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE POOL REPORTER WHO WILL ASK QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA CHIEF TECHONE OVER TO YOU.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO GET GOING GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
UH, AGAIN, CITY MANAGER, SPENCER CRONK, AND ALTHOUGH MANY ARE FAMILIAR WITH CHIEF MCKOWN.
I WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE HIM TO OUR BROADER COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR CONFIRMING HIM AS MY CHOICE AS INTERIM CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
LAST THURSDAY, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT TODAY.
WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF SITTING BACK UNTIL A PERMANENT CHIEF ARRIVES.
THERE'S FAR TOO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK TO BE DONE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, AND WE MUST REMAIN FOCUSED ON MOVING FORWARD.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON TRANSFORMING THE CADET ACADEMY, ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION AND BIAS, IMPROVING POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT CHIEF CHICAGO'S COMMITMENT TO REFORM WILL ENABLE US TO MAKE PROGRESS ON OUR OBJECTIVES OVER THE COMING MONTHS IN DOING SO.
HE WILL HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND MAKING SURE ALL PEOPLE IN AUSTIN FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES IS UNWAVERING.
WE ARE INVESTING IN EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO MAKE AUSTIN A PLACE WHERE THE EFFORTS OF POLICE ARE SUPPORTED WITH THE HIGH CALIBER TRAINING PUBLIC SAFETY INVESTMENTS TO PREVENT CRIME FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE AND APPROPRIATELY HANDLING OF MENTAL HEALTH, CRISISES AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
THIS IS A PIVOTAL TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM CONFIDENT IN CHIEF CHICAGOAN'S ABILITY TO NAVIGATE US THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, CONTINUE TO BUILD PUBLIC TRUST, MOVE FORWARD ON THE COMMITMENTS WE'VE MADE AND LEAD THIS DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WHILE WE SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT PERMANENT CHIEF.
SO THAT END, WE'LL CONTINUE TO URGE THE COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT THE POLICE CHIEF SEARCH BY VISITING SPEAK-UP AUSTIN.ORG/YOUR NEXT POLICE CHIEF EMAILING COMMUNITY AT AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV GOV, OR CONTACTING US.
AND WITH THAT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF CHACONE.
UH, THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO'S JOINED IN TODAY.
UH, FIRST I WANT TO JUST REITERATE HOW PROUD I AM TO HAVE OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONFIRMED CITY MANAGER'S PROMPT DECISION TO HAVE ME SERVE IN MY NEW ROLE AS THE INTERIM POLICE CHIEF FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I INTEND TO FULLY SUPPORT ALL THE EFFORTS TO KEEP AUSTIN SAFE UNTIL EFFECTIVELY IDENTIFY OUR NEXT PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF.
I WANT, I WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO REASSURE YOU THAT THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF APD ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL POPULATIONS IN THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO RE-IMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE, THE SERVICE THAT YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT, AFTER MANY MEANINGFUL AND SOMETIMES TOUGH DECISIONS.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE HEAR YOU AND WE'RE ACTIVELY TAKING STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME.
I WANT TO JUST PROVIDE A MOMENT TO BE ABLE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.
I'M GOING TO START WITH, UH, WITH FIRST THAT I'M A PERSON OF INTEGRITY, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME AND UPHOLDING THIS VALUE THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION.
THIS IS DONE INTENTIONALLY AND DAILY IN EVERY INTERACTION THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I VALUE THE COMMITMENT THAT THE HARDWORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DISPLAY ON A DAILY BASIS AS THEY DELIVER CRITICAL SERVICE TO HAVE THEM SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEY ALSO VALUE THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT HAS BEEN COMING IN, DRIVING THE EFFORTS FOR US TO PROVIDE POLICE SERVICE IN THE MANNER THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESIRES.
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IMPORTANTLY, I BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY BY DISPLAYING THESE CORE TENANTS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, WE CAN BUILD TRUST AND LEGITIMACY BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY.I'VE BEEN LEADING THE DEPARTMENT IN A, IN A COUPLE OF AREAS THAT I THINK ARE VERY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW TO THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING IN THE AREA OF, UH, ENDING HOMELESSNESS AND IN HOW POLICE INTERACT WITH THOSE THAT ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
I'VE BEEN ACTIVE IN BOTH THESE AREAS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THEY'RE AREAS THAT FOR WHICH I HAVE A PASSION AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE THE DEPARTMENT'S, UH, EFFORTS IN THESE AREAS.
UH, I KIND OF CONCLUDES MY OPENING COMMENTS.
I DO WANT TO, UM, LEAVE SOME GOOD TIME FOR, UM, FOR, FOR MEDIA TO, TO GO AHEAD AND ASK, ASK QUESTIONS.
UM, I'LL BE TALKING THROUGHOUT ABOUT THEM GOALS DURING MY TENURE.
SO I VERY BRIEFLY, I'LL JUST SAY THAT I W I DO WANT TO FACILITATE EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE.
I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, UH, THAT YOU, THE COMMUNITY BE ABLE TO SEE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS GROWING AND IS GROWING IN THE WAY THAT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO REALLY EFFECT A GOOD TRANSITION OF APD TO NEW LEADERSHIP AND TO BRING ON A, KIND OF A NEW AND REVAMPED CULTURE, ACTIVELY ENGAGING IN THIS SEARCH PROCESS WITH THE TRANSITION TEAM, WE'RE GOING TO BE ENHANCING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN ALL APD DIVISIONS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS OUR TRAINING ACADEMY, WHICH WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS SO THAT WE, UH, WHEN WE REOPEN IT, THAT WE ARE DOING SO WITH THE FULL CONFIDENCE, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT.
I MENTIONED IT ALREADY, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REITERATE THE TRANSPARENCY, ENHANCING COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M ALSO ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SIGNIFICANTLY WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND THEN BUILDING THE TRUST, ENHANCING THAT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN APD AND THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL BE ENGAGING WITH, UM, MANY PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAY HAVE FEEL, MAY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED OR HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED.
UH, I AM, I AM ACTIVELY REACHING OUT AND TRYING TO RE-ENGAGE ON THOSE, BUT HAVING MADE THOSE COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU, KEVIN, SO THAT YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND, UM, AND MODERATE THE SESSION.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR, FOR JOINING TODAY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE QUESTIONS.
NOW WE'LL MOVE OVER TO OUR POOL REPORTER CAUSE YOU MAY, HER AND HERNANDEZ FROM UNIVISION WITH QUESTIONS FOR OUR SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH OUR INTERIM CHIEF.
UH, I'M GOING TO START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION FROM UNIVISION.
IN RECENT WEEKS, WE HAVE SEEN A WAVE OF ROBBERIES TO FOOD TRUCKS.
THE MAJORITY OWNED BY HISPANIC VENDORS.
HOW HAS THE BUDGET, THE RECENT BUDGET CUTS AFFECTED OFFICER'S PATROLLING IN THESE COMMUNITIES? SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE MADE CHANGES TO OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT LOSE THE OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE STREET, THAT WE STILL HAVE STRONG PRESENCE IN OUR PATROL AREAS, BECAUSE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THAN ANSWERING NINE 11 CALLS.
THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
SO BEING ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY, UH, RESPOND TO RESPOND QUICKLY.
UM, AND WE, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN ABLE TO, UM, CONTINUE TO RETAIN, UH, WITHIN A REASONABLE STANDARD.
THE, THE, THE MEASURES THAT WE, THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT KIND OF DEFINE HOW WE'RE DOING OUR POLICE SERVICES.
UM, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND THAT'S WHY IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT THAT WE RESTART THE ACADEMY CLASS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO, TO BRING IN SOME FRESH OFFICERS TO START REFILLING THE RANKS AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING THEM ON IN THE RIGHT WAY.
UM, WE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE VIOLENT CRIME, AND I AM, YOU KNOW, HA HAVE PUT OUT A, UH, MANDATE THIS WEEK TO, UH, MY COMMAND STAFF TO BRING BACK A VIOLENT CRIME INITIATIVE THAT WE WILL INSTITUTE WITHIN THE NEXT ONE TO TWO WEEKS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING VERY ACTIVELY TO TARGET THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMMITTING VIOLENT CRIMES.
I THINK THAT'S THE EXPECTATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE EFFORT THAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD RIGHT NOW.
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WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU THINK THE POLICE IS FACING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND WHAT WILL YOUR APPROACH BE WITH THE IMMIGRANT POPULATION IN AUSTIN THAT WAS REPORTER AUSTIN? UM, SO I'M VERY GLAD, UH, IN THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THAT NOW HAVE A HISPANIC CHIEF AND, UH, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS, I WILL TRANSITION TO SPANISH AND WE'LL BE SPEAKING TO OUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY DIRECTLY IN THEIR NATIVE TONGUE.I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE VALUE AND WE SHOW THE VALUE, UM, TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR LATINO POPULATION.
UM, IN RECENT WEEKS, WE HAVE SEEN, UH, MANY MORE CRIMES BEING COMMITTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AGAINST OUR, UH, ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS, UH, FOLKS OF THOSE DESCENT.
UM, SO WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON ALL SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, THAT WE ARE PROVIDING GOOD EFFECTIVE SERVICES IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER TO ALL OF THEM.
AND, UM, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, NO LESS THAN LATINO OR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THAT IS OUT THERE.
I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN THEY CALL NINE ONE, ONE THAT, UM, THAT, THAT WE ARE CERTAINLY MOST IMPORTANT, UH, INTERESTED IN THEIR SAFETY.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICERS ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THAT THEY, THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY FEEL SAFE, JUST LIKE ALL OTHER SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
CBS AUSTIN, LAST SUMMER, SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN COUNCIL MEMBERS CALL FOR A CHANGE IN POLICE LEADERSHIP DUE TO APDS USE OF FORCE DURING BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN AUSTIN AS THE INTERIM CHIEF, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO ADDRESS LINGERING POLICE DISTRUST IN THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING THESE EVENTS? SO I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS AT THE OUTSET, AND I'LL JUST KIND OF, I'LL KIND OF EXPAND A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK THAT WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS, IS THAT WE HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT IN WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER.
WE HAVE TO, UH, LOOK VERY CRITICALLY AT OURSELVES TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
WE DID A GOOD JOB IN MANY AREAS AND THEN OTHER AREAS WHERE CERTAINLY WE CAN SAY THAT IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED TO BE MADE.
UM, THE MORE THAT WE COMMUNICATE AND WE EXPLAIN THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, THAT IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO BUILD THAT TRUST AND, AND, AND THE INCREASED POLICE LEGITIMACY.
UM, WE HAVE TO BE COMMUNICATIVE.
SO I, I HAVE COMMITTED TO, UH, CITY MANAGEMENT AND TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL THAT I PLAN TO BE AS OPEN AND TRANSPARENT IN, UH, AS QUICK AND EXPEDIENT, A MANNER AS POSSIBLE WHEN WE HAVE INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN IN WHICH, IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY HAS AN INTEREST.
SO I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THOSE, THOSE, UH, CRITICAL INCIDENTS, LIKE AN OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING, BUT OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST AS WELL, THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A PART OF, I WANT TO BE OUT FRONT REALLY EXPLAINING WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, NOT JUST FOR OUR OWN, UH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THIS ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
AND SO THAT'S A COMMITMENT TO THEM AS WELL.
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE TEXAS TRIBUNE CHIEF CHECK ON, DO YOU SUPPORT EFFORTS AT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD PREVENT CITIES FROM CUTTING OR REALLOCATING POLICE BUDGET? ARE THERE SPECIFIC BILLS HE DOES OR DOES NOT SUPPORT? UM, SO WITH REGARD TO THIS QUESTION, I JUST FINISHED TESTIFYING LAST THURSDAY AT A STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REGARDING A NUMBER OF BILLS THAT HAD TO DO WITH QUOTE UNQUOTE, THE FUNDING, THE POLICE, AND HOLDING CITIES, UH, ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I, I CAME OUT VERY STRONGLY INDICATING THAT I DID NOT THINK THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS AN ISSUE THAT, UH, THAT WE SEE, I THINK THAT, UM, LOCAL, LOCAL DEPARTMENTS AND REALLY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW A COMMUNITY, UH, BASED ON THE INPUT FROM THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING TO BE POLICED AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT, UM, COME FROM, FROM A STATE GOVERNMENT OR A, OR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR SOME OTHER LEVEL.
IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE THAT LOCAL CONTROL.
UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET IS ONE THING, BUT, BUT WHAT I TESTIFY TO SPECIFICALLY WAS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUST FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT PATROL LOCALLY, AND THAT TRUST IS BUILT BY THE DAILY INTERACTIONS THAT HAPPEN.
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WE HAVE BUILT THOSE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.AND IF WE HAVE ANOTHER, ANOTHER DEPARTMENT THAT JUST STEPS IN, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IS ASKED TO DO THE SAME THING TO THE SAME LEVEL.
I THINK THAT THAT YOU'RE SETTING THOSE FOLKS UP FOR FAILURE.
UM, SO THAT IS WHAT I TESTIFY TO.
AND, UH, I WOULD NOT SUPPORT ANY MEASURE THAT IS LOOKING TO BE PUNITIVE IN ANY WAY TOWARDS, UH, TOWARDS A LOCAL, A LOCAL ENTITY.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO WORK, UH, WITH OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO FIND THAT RIGHT MIX, THAT RIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, FRAMEWORK FOR HOW POLICING IS GOING TO BE DONE.
AND I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
DO YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR THE PERMANENT CHIEF JOB? UM, I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT I'M CONSIDERING, AND I HAVE NOT MADE ANY DECISIONS ABOUT
NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE CHECK ON VIDEO RECORDED YESTERDAY AT A RALLY NEAR FOURTH AND CONGRESS SHELTON, AUSTIN POLICE OFFICER PUSHING A WOMAN IN A WHEELCHAIR UNTIL SHE FALLS OUT OF THE CHAIR.
THE OFFICER PROCEEDS TO WALK AWAY WITHOUT HELPING THE WOMAN WILL ANY OF THE OFFICERS AT THE SCENE UNDERGO AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATION? UH, I HAVE SEEN THE INCIDENT IN QUESTION.
UM, WE ARE I'VE, I'VE ALREADY SPOKEN WITH THE AREA COMMANDER AND WE ARE DOING OUR, UM, OUR REVIEW OF SUCH TYPES OF INCIDENTS, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, THE USE OF FORCE, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE RESPONSE, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW WE HANDLE THIS TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE POLICIES WERE FOLLOWED.
I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT AHEAD OF THIS AND MAKE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT WHETHER I THINK IT MIGHT GO TO INTERNAL AFFAIRS OR NOT.
I WANT TO CONDUCT THAT, WHICH IS PART OF OUR POLICY.
AND THAT REVIEW IS CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED.
I CAN TELL THAT WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION THAT, UM, IS ON A TIMELINE.
WE HAVE TIMELINES THAT ARE SET BY STATE LAW, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO OPERATE WITHIN, WITHIN, AND, AND WE ARE, WE WILL DO SO IN EACH ONE OF THOSE CASES ENSURE THAT, THAT WE DON'T LET DEADLINES PASS BY.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT.
THAT'S CONDUCTING THE OVERSIGHT OF THOSE TO ENSURE THEY ARE KIND OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCES FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING AND BIASED AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS AND THAT, UM, AND, AND ULTIMATELY, UH, KIND OF HELP THE PROCESS, UH, TOWARDS THE END AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE HEAR FROM THE POLICE MONITOR OR A MUSCADET AND HOW SHE FEELS, UH, RE REGARDING, REGARDING WHATEVER THE INCIDENT IS.
UM, WITH REGARDS TO OFFICERS THAT MIGHT BE, UH, FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES OR INDICTMENTS, UH, THERE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR ENSURING THAT, UM, ANY KIND OF TIMELINES THAT MIGHT BE SET BY STATE LAW ARE EXTENDED UNTIL THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE, WHETHER THAT IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT WE RECEIVED BACK FROM OUR DISTRICT OR COUNTY ATTORNEY THAT SAYS THAT NEW CHARGES ARE GOING TO BE FILED, OR IF CHARGES ARE FILED UNTIL THAT ACTION IS COMPLETE ALL THE WAY THROUGH COURT.
SO, UM, SO ALL OF THOSE, WE HAVE PROCESSES FOR ALL OF THOSE IN PLACE AND, UH, AND PROTOCOLS THAT WE WILL FOLLOW TO ENSURE NOT ONLY ARE WE MAINTAINING, UM, OFFICER'S RIGHTS, BUT THAT WE ARE HOLDING OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR, UH, WHATEVER THE ALLEGED ACTION IS, IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE, UM, FOUNDED, NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM THE AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN.
HOW WILL YOU REPAIR WONDER RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ACTIVIST COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN IN LATER RECENT EVENTS IN ATLANTA? WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE IN HELPING PROTECT THE AAPI COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN? UH, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION I HAVE BEEN, UM, ALREADY IN, IN, UH, KIND OF MY LIMITED TIME HERE, REACHING OUT TO SOME
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OF OUR, UH, ACTIVIST ROOTS HERE IN AUSTIN, TRYING TO ENGAGE, UM, THAT IS GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS EFFORT THROUGHOUT MY, UH, WHAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A SHORT TENURE AS THE INTERIM CHIEF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING THAT THEY'RE A, THEY'RE A, UH, A VOCAL AND KIND OF VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.AND SO, UM, I, I REALLY NEED TO, TO HAVE, BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE SAYING, AND, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT TO SEE WHAT, WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WANTS OF THAT, OF WHATEVER GROUP IT IS TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
AND, UM, AND SO I, I'M COMMITTED TO DOING THAT.
I'VE ALREADY DONE IT WITH A FEW, UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IT WITH OTHER GROUPS.
AND, AND CERTAINLY ANY, ANY MEMBER OUT THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THIS WHO IS INTERESTED IN MEETING WITH ME, I ASKED YOU TO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH WITH ME, BECAUSE THAT IS, THAT IS MY DESIRE TO BE AS ENGAGED WITH OUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING OUR ACTIVIST COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE WITH REGARD APOLOGIZE.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE SECOND QUESTION NOW WITH THE ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY, UM, FOLLOWING THE EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, WE HAVE STEPPED UP PATROLS IN, UH, AREAS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE BUSINESSES OR PLACES OF WORSHIP, UH, THAT ARE, UH, OWNED OR OPERATED BY PEOPLE OF, UH, ASIAN AMERICAN DESCENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL PROTECTED.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE.
W YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING IN THAT COMMUNITY, UH, SPECIFICALLY THAT IS TARGETING ASIAN-AMERICANS, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE FOR TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DO SEE IT, NOT ONLY DO WE ADDRESS IT, BUT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE AWARENESS.
THE NEXT QUESTION, THE DAILY TEXAN, WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU PLAN? WHAT ACTIONS DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE AS INTERIM POLICE CHIEF TO ENSURE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AND THE TRAINING OF THE UPCOMING CADET CLASS, AND WHAT DO THOSE DIVERSITY INCLUSION CHANGES TO THE CURRICULUM CURRICULUM LOOK LIKE? SO THERE ARE NEVER THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE, UM, GOING TO PUT TOGETHER A CADET CLASS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAN BE, CAN BE PROUD OF THAT WE ARE, UM, REALLY LOOKING, UH, THROUGH A DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION LENS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY TRAINING VIDEO THAT WE HAVE, EVERY CLASS THAT WE PUT ON, THAT WE ARE, UM, DOING IT IN A WAY THAT IS GOING TO PROMOTE THOSE VALUES IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
ANN CRANKINESS AND THE NEW TRAINING ACADEMY, UH, DIVISION MANAGER.
SHE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA AND IN, IN, IN THE AREA OF ACADEMICS TO BE ABLE TO TRANSFORM OUR ACADEMY, ESSENTIALLY INTO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION, AND WE'RE CREATING A MUCH BETTER ADULT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
AND WITH THE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON ADULT LEARNING, WE'RE ALSO CONTRACTING WITH THE JOYCE JAMES CONSULTING GROUP IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THE GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL AND RACIAL INEQUITIES IN POLICING TRAINING.
SO THIS WORKSHOP THAT WILL BE CONDUCTED, AND WE ARE, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF, OF NOT ONLY PUTTING OUR CADETS THROUGH IT, BUT OUR INCUMBENTS, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY HERE REALLY LOOKS AT INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM AT THAT GROUNDWATER LEVEL.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF, OF SOCIETAL AND GENERATIONAL RACIAL INEQUITIES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND, AND INTERNALIZE IT.
AND THEN, AND THEN LOOK THROUGH THAT KIND OF, AS I MENTIONED, UH, LANDS AS THEY PROVIDE SERVICES DOWN THE ROAD, ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM THE ACADEMY AND, AND, AND, UM, AND ARE OUT THERE SERVING OUR CITIZENS.
SO THERE'S THIS, I'VE JUST MENTIONED A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING.
THERE'S, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, BUT ALL OF THESE ARE PART OF THE BLUEPRINT THAT WE'RE LAYING OUT FOR CITY MANAGEMENT AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE ARE, UM, REALLY TRYING TO ADVANCE THIS, THIS EFFORT OF, OF REDOING OUR POLICE TRAINING.
AND I'LL JUST ADD, I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE CHIEF'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I KNOW HE WAS ACTUALLY VISITING THE ACADEMY, UH, THIS MORNING, UH, TO REINFORCE SOME OF THE MESSAGES THAT WE'VE BEEN CONVEYING BOTH THROUGH THE BLUEPRINTS AND THE STEPS THAT WE'LL BE TAKING TO HAVE A RE-IMAGINED AND A REINVISION A CONNECT TRAINING ACADEMY THAT WILL REALLY REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD.
SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TOPIC, AND WE ARE PUTTING IN ALL OF OUR RESOURCES AND EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN STAND BEHIND IT.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN SUPPORT.
NOW, THE NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FROM FOX SEVEN NEWS,
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EVEN WITH A NEW CADET CLASS THIS SUMMER, IT WILL BE ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE NEW OFFICERS ARE SOARING.AND HOW WILL YOU ADDRESS OFFICER'S SHORTAGE? IN THE MEANTIME WILL MORE SPECIALIZED UNITS SEE CUTS BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT YEAR.
I CAN SAY THAT THAT IS LIKELY, UM, WE CONTINUE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, LOSE OFFICERS THROUGH NORMAL ATTRITION.
AND RIGHT NOW OUR ATTRITION RATE HAS BEEN, UM, IT HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN NORMAL AS, AS WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT ARE ENTERING THE TIME IN THEIR CAREER, WHERE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT.
AND, AND WE'VE SEEN, UH, WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF OFFICERS THAT HAVE LEFT IN THE RECENT MONTHS, AND THAT IS LEAVING PARTICULARLY OUR PATROL RENTS SHORT, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT IS SO CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE PATROL THAT IS STAFFED APPROPRIATELY, UH, SO THAT WE, WE ARE ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND IMPORTANTLY, I'M ENSURING THE SAFETY OF THE OFFICERS THAT ARE IN THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS OUT THERE TO BACK ONE ANOTHER UP AS THEY GO TO WHAT CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY DANGEROUS CALLS.
SO, YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT AREAS WHERE WE'RE BEING STRATEGIC AND VERY INTENTIONAL AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHICH, UM, WHICH UNITS MIGHT HAVE TO BE DOWNSIZED.
UM, I AM TAKING INPUT FROM A NUMBER OF AREAS AND HAD HEARD VERY, VERY CLEARLY FROM MANY, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE THINGS THAT THEY VALUE AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING INTO OUR, UH, KIND OF OUR, OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS AS WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT, UM, I I'VE SAID IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
THIS IS WHY, YOU KNOW, IT'S, SO IT'S SO GREAT THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING OUR ACADEMY BACK UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
UM, I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VERY PROUD OF THE PRODUCT THAT WE PUT ULTIMATELY IN THE CURRICULUM AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OUT THERE.
AND IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING BACK TO THE RANKS.
AND SO THAT ONCE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS, WE CAN PUSH THOSE FOLKS BACK TO THEIR REGULAR ASSIGNMENTS.
AND WE'RE ON OUR LAST QUESTION.
IT'S FROM K X, A N YOU'VE BEEN WITH APD FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
AND SOME ARGUE THAT IN THAT ENOUGH NEEDED CHANGE CAN COME FROM SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT LONG.
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BRING CHANGE THE MAKES FOR MORE TRANSPARENT, EFFICIENT, AND EFFECTIVE POLICE FORCE? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I THINK IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.
UM, I WOULD ASK YOU FOR THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE THE DAILY INTERACTIONS WITH, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I'M GOING TO BE ENGAGING TO JUST HAVE AN OPEN MIND.
UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT NOT ONLY THE WORDS THAT I'M TELLING YOU, BUT THE ACTIONS THAT WILL FOLLOW AND JUDGE ME BY THAT BECAUSE, UM, I, I TELL YOU THAT I'M A PERSON OF INTEGRITY.
I TELL YOU THAT I'M A PERSON WHO IS HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND IN THE SAME BREATH, TELL YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO DELIVER POLICE SERVICES THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
SO, UM, THOSE, THOSE TWO THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING THE OPERATIONS, HOW I'M CREATING THE VISION AND MISSION HERE FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
AND, AND, AND IT STARTS WITH US AT THE TOP.
AND THEN, AND THEN IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION.
I PLAN TO, UM, TO REALLY INSTILL A SENSE OF, UM, OF SERVICE, UH, OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, THAT BY, BY THE, BY THE HIGHEST RANKS OF THE DEPARTMENT, REALLY DELIVERING THAT TO, TO ALL OF THE OFFICERS, THE OFFICERS WHO ARE ACTUALLY TAKING THE NINE 11 CALLS ARE GOING TO TURN AROUND AND THEY'RE GOING TO DELIVER IT TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS, THAT IS THE WAY THAT I WANT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN AND WHAT I'M ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS.
SO I WOULD JUST SAY, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, GIVE IT A CHANCE.
UM, AND FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT HAVE DOUBTS AND, UM, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, LET, LET ME PROVE IT TO FOLKS.
THAT WAS THE LAST OF OUR QUESTIONS.
AND THANK YOU TO KADIMA TEACHER KHAN WOULD NOW LIKE TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE SPANISH COMMUNITY DIRECTLY CHEAP CHICKEN.
THE METAL
[00:30:01]
IN THERE, AUSTIN, SEE RUDELPLUS WE HAVE THE PUBLICA, EVEN IN THAT LAST MASS
SO IT WON'T PERSON PERSONA THE INTEGRITY THAT IN OTHER MASS IS MOST IMPORTANTLY,
SO
THIS THEY'RE LIKE
AND BEFORE WE WRAP UP, WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CHIEF CHUCK ON AND CITY MANAGER KRONK HAD CHANCE TO MAKE ANY CLOSING REMARKS.
WE WILL START WITH CHIEF CHICKEN.
UH, THAT'S ALL I CAN REALLY TELL YOU IS THAT, UM, THIS IS, UH, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, UH, FOR US TO SHOWCASE, UM, HOW, HOW GOOD THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS.
I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH MUCH OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY AND, AND, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON NATIONALLY THAT HAS BEEN LOST IN THAT NARRATIVE, UM, MY INTENTION IS TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE REALLY GOOD THINGS.
AND THEN IMPORTANTLY, IT IS TO, TO SHINE A LIGHT WHEN WE FALL SHORT AND TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AND TO, TO HOLD OURSELVES TO HIGH ACCOUNT.
SO, UH, SO I WILL BE DOING THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS.
I WANT TO LEAVE THIS DEPARTMENT IN A, IN A BETTER PLACE, UH, ALWAYS CONTINUALLY IMPROVING FOR WHEN WE FIND THAT NEXT PERMANENT POLICE CHIEF AND I HAND THE REIGNS OVER.
SO, UM, I, I TRULY TO CITY MANAGERS, SPENCER CRONK, AND, UH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHOWING THE CONFIDENCE IN ME, UH, TO, TO BE ABLE TO LEAD US THROUGH THIS PERIOD.
AND I CAN PROMISE I WON'T LET HIM DOWN.
AND NOW OVER TO CITY MANAGER CRUNK, WELL, THANK YOU FOR CREATING THE SPACE FOR THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TODAY.
AND I AM SO PROUD OF THE WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO HAVE THESE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON SUCH A BROAD RANGE OF SUBJECTS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
NO DOUBT THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE AS WE UNDERTAKE THE IMPORTANT PROCESS OF FINDING AUSTIN'S NEXT POLICE CHIEF.
AND AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, MY GOAL THROUGHOUT WILL BE TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE HEARD AND WHO THEY WANT TO SEE LEAD OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS THAT RELIES HEAVILY ON EXTENSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I WANT TO THANK CHIEF CHACONE FOR BEING HERE TODAY FOR TAKING ON THIS INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR POOL REPORTER FROM UNIVERSITY OWN FOR ASKING THE MEDIA QUESTIONS.
AND WITH THAT, THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESS CONFERENCE.
[00:35:09]