[2. Briefing on emergency response to the April 23, 2026, Union-Pacific train car derailment incident in the Seaholm District. [Jim Redick, Director - Austin Emergency Management]]

THE THE COMMITTEE WILL NOT NOW TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS A BRIEFING ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO THE APRIL 23RD, 2026 UNION PACIFIC TRAIN CAR DERAILMENT INCIDENT IN THE SEAHOLM DISTRICT.

AND WITH THAT, WE WELCOME JIM REDDICK, DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

WELCOME. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, AS ALWAYS, IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU. AND THIS TIME, I WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF BRIEFING ON THE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN DERAILMENT AS IT OCCURRED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

VERY BRIEF, BECAUSE AN ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, IT WAS A NONEVENT. FROM AN INCIDENT RESPONSE PERSPECTIVE, BUT IT WAS A FANTASTIC FULL SCALE EXERCISE, IF YOU WILL, BECAUSE IT FORCED US TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF OUR COORDINATION, OUR OPERATIONAL COORDINATION, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THE LIKE.

SO IS THIS THE CLICKER? EXCELLENT. OKAY. SO AS YOU SAID BACK ON APRIL 23RD EARLY IN THE MORNING, SEVEN CARS DERAILED OUT OF 230.

WE, WE KNOW THAT TRAIN RAIL IS ONE OF THE SAFEST METHODS TO TRANSPORT DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARGO. AND SO THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE BUT, BUT IT WASN'T IT WAS MIXED COMMODITIES.

SOME MEDICAL SUPPLIES, BUT NOT OF A SEVERE VARIATION AND CERTAINLY NO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, WHICH WELL, THAT WAS THE CASE.

WE KEPT ASKING OURSELVES, WHAT IF.

WHAT IF THERE WAS CHLORINE? WHAT IF THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF ETHYL METHYL DEATH OR BI POLY MESS YOU UP.

[00:05:03]

WHATEVER IT IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALERT THE COMMUNITY? AND AGAIN, WE JUST KEPT GOING OVER THAT IN OUR NOTES THROUGHOUT THE INCIDENT.

AND CERTAINLY AS SOME FOLLOW UP ITEMS IN TERMS OF TRAINING AND EXERCISES IT WAS A 4 A.M. INCIDENT. AND GOING BACK TO THE, THE, THE ALERTS, I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THAT FOLKS SHOULD NOT, CAN NOT, MUST NOT OPT OUT OF THE I PAUSE THE WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT IS INTENDED TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

THAT'S INTENDED TO WAKE YOU UP AT 4 A.M.

IF THERE IS A PLUME OF CHLORINE HEADING YOUR WAY, THAT IS OUR WAY THAT WE CONTACT YOU TO TELL YOU TO SHELTER IN PLACE WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT MEANS TO SHELTER IN PLACE.

SO THAT TO ME, THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS.

THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS.

IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY FOLKS WITHIN A MILE OF A CHLORINE SPILL OF THIS MAGNITUDE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO ALERT THEM? WILL THEY GET THE ALERTS AND WILL THEY BE ABLE TO TAKE PROTECTIVE ACTION? OBVIOUSLY, UNION PACIFIC WAS INVOLVED IN THE COORDINATION AS WELL AS AUSTIN FIRE, WHO WERE FIRST ON SCENE.

WE GOT ENGAGED AND WE WERE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DEPARTMENTS. AND OF COURSE, AUSTIN POLICE, THEY HAVE THEIR RESPONSE MECHANISMS AS WELL. NOT ONLY FROM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BUT ALSO THEIR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY NEW TO ME.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S MORE AGENCIES AT THE TABLE THAN I ORIGINALLY KNEW.

AND THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE FAMILIARIZATION WITH ALL THE CAPABILITIES THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS WITH TXDOT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND AND SO WE HAD SOME FOLLOW UP DISCUSSIONS WITH UNION PACIFIC, AND IT WAS THE BRASS FROM THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

AYE PD. I KNOW CHIEF DAVIS WAS THERE A FDATE MS AND MY SHOP AND WE REALLY JUST KIND OF TALKED ABOUT HOW WE CAN NURTURE THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH UNION PACIFIC AND BE ABLE TO WORK ALL TOGETHER BETTER FOR THE NEXT TIME.

SO THERE ARE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL TRAININGS THAT THEY'RE OFFERING TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

AND WE INCORPORATED UNION PACIFIC INTO OUR THREE YEAR TRAINING AND EXERCISE PLAN, NOT NECESSARILY TO HAVE DERAILMENT SPECIFIC EXERCISES, BUT INCORPORATING THEM INTO ALL OF OUR EXERCISES IN WHICH THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE COMPONENT. SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SIMULATE ANYTHING.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FORCED TO COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE UNDER ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONS.

AND THAT'S THAT'S BEEN OUR PATH FORWARD SINCE THEN.

PREVIOUSLY WHEN I PRESENTED TO THE COMMITTEE, I TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT CORE CAPABILITIES.

AND THAT HAS BEEN OUR MARCHING ORDERS, WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT UASI FUNDING, URBAN AREA SECURITY INITIATIVE, HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDING, OR OUR PLANS, WE'RE GOING THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT CORE CAPABILITIES TO DETERMINE WHAT METRICS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MEET, MEAT TO TO SATISFY THE MISSION.

AND BY DEFINING THAT IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TO MEET THAT, THEN THAT'S THAT GIVES US THE PATHWAY TO HAVE PRESCRIPTIVE REQUESTS THAT WE CAN REQUEST THOSE RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S FROM THE STATE OR ULTIMATELY THE FEDERAL RESPONSE.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC ROADMAP FOR US.

AND USING THE CORE CAPABILITIES AND THE PRECURSOR, THE TARGET CAPABILITIES, WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING OUR PLANS AND POSTING THEM ONLINE. WE PROMISED SEVERAL PLANS, INCLUDING OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, BASIC PLANS. IF ANYONE GOES TO AUSTIN, TEXAS.GOV/EM PLANS, THEY WILL FIND THEM THERE.

WE HAVE AT LEAST SIX, SEVEN PLANS ON THERE, INCLUDING OUR PROTECTIVE ACTION PLAN FOR WILDFIRE OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF INCIDENT THAT TALKS ABOUT SHELTERING, TALKS ABOUT EVACUATION AND SHELTER IN PLACE.

SO WHILE WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP OUR PLANS WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH A LOT OF THE COMMITTEES THAT AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE IN EXISTENCE AND SOME OTHER ADVOCACY GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE POSTING THEM THERE, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO NOT ONLY REVIEW, BUT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE IT BETTER.

IN FACT, WE CHALLENGED THE COMMUNITY TO POKE HOLES IN IT AS BEST THEY CAN SO WE CAN HAVE THE BEST PLANS MOVING FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY.

MR. CHAIR, THAT IS MY BRIEFING ON THE DERAILMENT.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR. COLLEAGUES, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DIRECTOR. THANK YOU SIR. COLLEAGUES.

[3. Briefing on partnership between Austin Police and community violence prevention programs. [Lisa Davis, Chief of Police - Austin Police; Michelle Myles, Manager - Austin Office of Violence Prevention; Eddie Franz, Director; Sean Oliver, Community Coordinator - ATX peace]]

NOW THE COMMITTEE WILL TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER THREE. IT'S A BRIEFING ON THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AUSTIN POLICE AND OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. WE HAVE CHIEF DAVIS, MICHELLE MILES FRIENDS AND SEAN OLIVER.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU, COMMITTEE CHAIR. WE ALSO HAVE DOCTOR TAMARA HAROLD, WHO'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO HER, I JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND CERTAINLY AS I LOOK AT REDUCING VIOLENCE YOU KNOW, IN MY PRIOR PRIOR ROLE IN CINCINNATI AND THEN HERE AS WE MOVE FORWARD NOTHING GETS THAT

[00:10:02]

ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT COLLABORATION.

AND THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

AND I WANT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO KNOW HOW MUCH I VALUE THEIR WORK AND THE WORK THAT THEIR TEAM IS DOING.

AND I LOOK FORWARD, QUITE HONESTLY, TO MORE PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE HERE WITHIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR HAROLD. YOU'VE MET DOCTOR HAROLD HERE BEFORE.

SHE DOES PHENOMENAL WORK WITH US.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT SHE SHE'S DOING HERE.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS COMMITTEE TO HEAR OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR FRONTLINE SUPERVISORS AND THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING. BUT HER WORK HERE AND THEN BEING ABLE TO STUDY THIS WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF LOOK AT THE RESEARCH BEHIND THESE THINGS AND HOW WE'RE DOING, AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR HAROLD. THANK YOU CHIEF, AND GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M TAMARA HAROLD. WE'VE MET BEFORE.

I'M A I'M A CRIME SCIENTIST AND A PROFESSOR AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND I WORK WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THE FIRST PART OF THIS BRIEFING, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MISS MICHELLE MILES AND HER TEAM OVER HERE AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

SO FIRST, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT, AND I THINK, DOES THIS WORK? THANK YOU KNOW, IS THAT IT? OKAY. EXCELLENT. SO THIS IS OUR AGENDA.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OVERVIEW. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION. AT PEACE IS GOING TO TALK AS WELL.

AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD.

EXCELLENT. SO JUST TO SORT OF GIVE YOU A PICTURE.

VIOLENT CRIME IN AUSTIN IS TRACKING WHAT WE'RE SEEING NATIONALLY.

SO VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO TREND DOWNWARDS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT THIS OUT FIRST, THAT GUN VIOLENCE REPRESENTS A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF THE TOTAL DEMAND PLACED ON AUSTIN POLICE.

AND THIS IS A GRAPH PRODUCED BY OKSANA FERRIN, AN EXCELLENT ANALYST MANAGER AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT FEWER THAN 1% OF ALL INCIDENTS ARE VIOLENT GUN CRIMES, AND ABOUT ONLY 0.13% ROUGHLY ONE TENTH OF 1%, INVOLVE SHOOTINGS. BUT SMALL PERCENTAGES DO NOT MEAN SMALL CONSEQUENCES, AND SHOOTINGS HAVE DEVASTATING IMPACTS ON FAMILIES, VICTIMS, NEIGHBORHOODS AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

AND THAT'S WHY FOCUSED CRIME PREVENTION REMAINS SO IMPORTANT.

APD'S MISSION TO KEEP YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND OUR COMMUNITY SAFE IS STRAIGHTFORWARD. BUT WHEN CHIEF DAVIS BEGAN LEADING THE DEPARTMENT, SHE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY TRUST AND CRIME PREVENTION AS CENTRAL PRIORITIES.

AND AS YOU KNOW, THOSE GOALS ARE CLOSELY CONNECTED.

WE KNOW THAT POLICE ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN THE COMMUNITY TRUSTS THEM, AND TRUST GROWS WHEN PEOPLE SEE POLICE WORKING FAIRLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO PREVENT HARM. APD HAS CONTINUED AND IN SEVERAL AREAS INITIATED A WIDE RANGE OF EFFORTS TO ADVANCE THOSE PRIORITIES, AND THE CHIEF HAS REALLY GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO EMPHASIZE VIOLENCE.

PREVENTION IS NOT ONE PROGRAM, IT'S NOT ONE UNIT.

IT OCCURS IN MANY WAYS THAT APD ENGAGES WITH THE COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THESE EFFORTS ARE LISTED HERE, AND FOR EACH ONE, AS THE CHIEF POINTED OUT, APD IS WORKING TO USE STRATEGIES SUPPORTED BY RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE.

I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, THESE SIX INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS AT THE END, WE CAN RETURN BACK.

BUT FIRST, OBVIOUSLY APD PREVENTS FUTURE VIOLENCE BY INVESTIGATING CRIMES AND HOLDING OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE.

SOLVING CRIMES PROVIDES JUSTICE AND SAFETY FOR VICTIMS, REDUCES MOTIVATION FOR RETALIATION, AND PREVENTS PEOPLE WHO HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS HARM FROM HARMING OTHERS.

AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT HERE IS THE NATIONAL HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATE IS APPROXIMATELY 58% APD CLEARED EVERY HOMICIDE COMMITTED IN 2023 A 100% CLEARANCE RATE, AND THAT IS A RARE ACHIEVEMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR A LARGE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT APD OBVIOUSLY DOES MUCH MORE THAN INVESTIGATE VIOLENCE.

APD IS WORKING TO USE THEIR EXISTING RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY BY STRENGTHENING FIRST LINE SUPERVISION AND IMPROVING DEPLOYMENT.

AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED, APD IS NOW PART OF THE NATIONAL CONSORTIUM TO ADVANCE POLICE SUPERVISION.

THE BARRY DUNN WORKLOAD ANALYSIS, WHICH YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, TOLD US WHAT STAFFING LEVEL THE CITY ACTUALLY NEEDS TO ANSWER COMMUNITY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE, AND APD IS WORKING HARD TO GET BACK TO IT.

APPLICATIONS ARE UP 74%, SEPARATIONS ARE DOWN 18%, AND THE ACADEMY HAS 92 CADETS MOVING TOWARD THE FIELD IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, AND THESE EFFORTS ARE SHOWING RESULTS.

THE LATEST CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY SURVEY NOTED THAT THE TIMELINESS OF APD'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE SHOWED THE SINGLE LARGEST IMPROVEMENT IN PERCEPTIONS OF ANY POLICE SERVICE. IT'S UP 52%. AND OF COURSE, THE RECENT TRAGEDY ON SIXTH STREET SHOWS WHY THAT MATTERS. OFFICERS WERE ON SCENE IN ROUGHLY 30S.

CHIEF UNDER 30S. AND AS WE ALL WITNESSED, THAT SPEED CAN STOP ADDITIONAL HARM AND SAVE LIVES. APD ALSO PREVENTS VIOLENCE BY BEING PRESENT AND PROACTIVE WHERE RISK IS HIGHEST.

[00:15:02]

OFFICERS HAVE BEEN RECEIVING TRAINING AND EVIDENCE BASED DIRECTED PATROL, SHORT FOCUSED PATROLS OF VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE DESIGNED TO DETER CRIME AND REDUCE FEAR. EARLY RESULTS SHOW THAT APPROXIMATELY SHOW APPROXIMATELY 40% REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME WHERE THAT STRATEGY HAS BEEN USED.

SO PRETTY IMPRESSIVE RESULTS.

AND APD PAIRS THIS WITH WHAT WE CALL A PLUS ONE PROTOCOL.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE'RE ASKING OFFICERS NOT SIMPLY TO PASS THROUGH A LOCATION, BUT TO TAKE ONE ADDITIONAL PREVENTION ORIENTED STEP.

SO SPEAKING WITH A BUSINESS OWNER, ENGAGING WITH A COMMUNITY MEMBER OR IDENTIFYING A CONDITION THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO CRIME.

AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IN ACTION BRIEFLY IN THIS BODY CAMERA CLIP.

DO I JUST CLICK IT? HI, HOW ARE YOU? THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU. I'M LIEUTENANT PACIFICO. I MET YOU BEFORE. YES, AT THE STARBUCKS, I REMEMBER.

OKAY. I JUST CAME BY TO CHECK IT OUT AND HOW THINGS YOU GUYS ARE DOING.

THAT'S NICE OF YOU. YEAH, WE WE ACTUALLY, WE DRIVE AROUND HERE, SO IF I DON'T SEE ANYTHING TOO CRAZY.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE THAT GATE CLOSED, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD. THAT HELPS WITH THE.

YEAH. SO HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? WE'RE DOING SO MUCH BETTER.

SO WHAT OUR GOALS ARE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN INFORMED, BUT WE'RE CREATING A POLICE SUBSTATION RIGHT OVER HERE. YEAH, I HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET. IS IT ALREADY READY? OKAY.

OH, COOL. SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A MINI FRIDGE AND A MICROWAVE IN HERE.

OH, THERE'S A RESTROOM THERE.

GOT, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF CHAIRS. WE'RE GOING TO PUT SOME ON THE OVERALL.

THAT'S GOOD. LIKE IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE. YOU THINK THAT'S THE RESTAURANT? YEAH. YEAH.

OKAY. NICE. YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A GATE.

SO THEY INSTALLED IT. OH, OKAY, I SEE IT.

FINALIZE EVERYTHING. SO NOW IT OPENS THE SHUTTERS OR IS IT? YEAH. OH. SO AS YOU CAN SEE, APD IS GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

WE'RE NOT JUST SHOWING UP IN PLACES WHERE CRIMES ARE BEING COMMITTED, BUT WE'RE ENGAGING WITH THE PEOPLE IN THOSE LOCATIONS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WHO ARE ALSO HELPING US WITH CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS. IS THAT THE IS THAT THE AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M INTERRUPT IS THAT THE LA QUINTA? IT IS. OKAY. PERFECT. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU. IN ADDITION, APD'S VICTIM SERVICES HELPS PREVENT FUTURE HARM BY HELPING VICTIMS RECOVER, REMAIN SAFE, AND NAVIGATE THE JUSTICE PROCESS.

IT'S 51. PERSONNEL PROVIDE IMMEDIATE CRISIS RESPONSE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, ALONG WITH LONG TERM, LONGER TERM SUPPORT, INCLUDING EVIDENCE BASED TRAUMA TREATMENT.

THE MOST RECENT OVERVIEW REPORTS MORE THAN 7400 ON SCENE COUNSELING SESSIONS, 9200 FOLLOW UP SESSIONS, 35,000 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE, AND MORE THAN 9600 VICTIMS SERVED.

AND THROUGH THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL EMERGENCY FUND.

STAFF CAN ALSO PROVIDE PHONES, FOOD, INFANT SUPPLIES, TRANSPORTATION, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, SECURITY CAMERAS, NEW DOORS AND LOCKS. AND THESE PRACTICAL RESOURCES HELP VICTIMS REGAIN SAFETY AND STABILITY AND CAN INTERRUPT CYCLES OF TRAUMA AND RETALIATION.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THESE SERVICES.

AUSTIN APD ALSO PREVENTS VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN'S PUBLIC AND SOMETIMES MOST VULNERABLE PLACES, INCLUDING SPACES WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS RATHER THAN RELYING SIMPLY ON OBSERVATION AND ENFORCEMENT.

CHIEF DAVIS HAS INVESTED IN DIALOG POLICING.

TRAINING OFFICERS COMMUNICATE WITH PARTICIPANTS.

THEY LISTEN TO CONCERNS, THEY EXPLAIN POLICE ACTIONS, AND THEY IDENTIFY TENSIONS BEFORE THEY ESCALATE.

AND THAT COMMUNICATION IS SO CRITICAL BECAUSE IT REDUCES MISUNDERSTANDING.

IT SUPPORTS PEACEFUL, PEACEFUL EXPRESSION, AND IT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT CONFLICT.

AND THIS BRIEF CLIP SHOWS WHAT THAT CAN LOOK LIKE FROM BOTH AN OFFICER'S PERSPECTIVE AND A COMMUNITY MEMBERS PERSPECTIVE.

IF WE CAN PLAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'RE PEACE OFFICERS FIRST AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SECOND.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE FUNDAMENTAL THING, I THINK ALL OF US KIND OF JUST UNDERSTAND IT.

AND YOU LEARNED IN THE THIRD GRADE, YOU KNOW, THE YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS, YOUR RIGHT TO FOR FREE SPEECH OR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

RIGHT. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT A LOT OF OFFICERS AGREE WITH THAT AND ALL OFFICERS SHOULD ARE SWORN TO AGREE WITH THAT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT HERE JUST MIXING AMONG THE PEOPLE, JUST ASKING, JUST ENGAGING, MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE AND THAT VOICE IS AMPLIFIED AND THEY HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES IN A SAFE LOCATION.

THANK YOU. OKAY. I JUST WANTED YOU'RE JUST SO AWESOME AND ADORABLE.

I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING YOU.

BECAUSE I WANT THE POLICE TO GET A GOOD NAME.

THANK YOU. OH, YOU'RE WONDERFUL, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME BLUSH. YOU GOTTA BE HOT AS HELL AND ALL THAT.

YOU'RE DOING THAT? I'M HERE FOR YOU.

HOW ABOUT THAT? I KNOW YOU ARE. I'M HERE FOR YOU. THANK YOU. SIR.

YEAH. YOU TOO. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY CUTTING EDGE EVIDENCE.

BASE IS BEING USED IN IN PARTICULAR CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

PART OF MY BACKGROUND IS IN CROWD PSYCHOLOGY, CROWD DYNAMICS.

[00:20:02]

I'VE STUDIED A LOT OF THIS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WHERE THIS WAS DEVELOPED.

AND WE ARE NOW IMPORTING THIS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND FINDING SOME REALLY SPECTACULAR OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS WELL.

AND WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU PREVIOUSLY, I INTRODUCED PLACE NETWORK INVESTIGATIONS OR NAI. AND NAI LOOKS BEYOND INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS TO IDENTIFY THE PROPERTIES, THE BUSINESSES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE NETWORKED TOGETHER AND ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECURRING VIOLENCE.

SO WHERE WE HAVE THOSE PERSISTENT, VIOLENT, CHRONIC HOT SPOTS.

WHAT COULD WE DO TO ACTUALLY GAIN LONG TERM SUCCESS IN THESE LOCATIONS? APD IS WORKING WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CHANGE THOSE CONDITIONS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE EARLY RESULTS OF OUR PILOT PROJECT ARE PROMISING IN THE TWO COMPARISONS.

PERIODS SHOWN HERE. CALLS FOR SERVICE DECLINE 68%.

ARRESTS AND INCIDENTS DECLINED 80% AND SHOOTINGS AND GUN SEIZURES FELL TO ZERO.

SO REALLY VERY PROMISING RESULTS.

AND THIS WORK HAS ALSO BENEFITED FROM AUSTIN'S COMMUNITY PROSECUTION UNIT LAUNCHED CITYWIDE IN MARCH, WITH SIX ATTORNEYS COVERING ALL OF AUSTIN TO WORK NOT JUST IN THESE PARTICULAR PILOT AREAS, BUT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT COMBINES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AND COURT ACTION WHEN NECESSARY.

THE CITY'S ATTORNEY NUISANCE ABATEMENT PROCESS HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED SPECIFIC PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ACROSS THE CITY, AND AT 900 EAST BRAKER APD, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CODE AND OTHER PARTNERS SECURED AN AGREEMENT WITH SOME OF THESE PROBLEM ESTABLISHMENTS TO CLOSE THEM DOWN FOR A YEAR AND THEN PUT CERTAIN CONDITIONS IN PLACE THAT WILL PREVENT FUTURE RELATED INCIDENTS BY MANAGING THE TYPES OF TENANTS AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY CAN OPERATE. AND THE CITY CONTINUES TO WORK TO BUILD COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED HISTORICALLY FROM DISPROPORTIONATE LEVELS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR CHRONIC, VIOLENT LOCATIONS.

AND THESE ARE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES.

I ONLY HAD A FEW MINUTES WITH YOU HERE TODAY.

HERE'S JUST A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF WHAT APD IS DOING TO REDUCE VIOLENCE.

I NOTE THAT MANY OF THESE EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE KNEE NEIGHBORHOOD ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE AND OUR HIGH RISK DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORK, ARE CARRIED OUT IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MISS MILES.

MISS MILES. GOOD AFTERNOON.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS MICHELLE MILES AND I LEAD THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS A MORE EXPANSIVE VIEW OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHERE THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS LIKE AT PEACE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORK TOGETHER TO BRING A MORE SAFE AND PEACEFUL AUSTIN.

FOR AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER A PEACE IN AUSTIN BY WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND SHAPE POLICIES, COORDINATE VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGIES INFORMED BY DATA, AND COMMITTED TO EQUITY.

AND WE ARE HOPING TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL AND SAFE AUSTIN FOR EVERYONE.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LIVE, WHO YOU ARE, EVERYONE DESERVES PEACE.

NOW, AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHAT WE CALL WHAT WE DO IS COMMUNITY BASED PUBLIC SAFETY. ALL OF OUR INVESTMENTS, ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE, PREVENT, INTERVENE AND HEAL FROM VIOLENCE.

I'M IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE VERY TARGETED.

AND ALSO VERY COLLABORATIVE WHEN WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THOSE GOALS.

NOW AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAKING A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION, I WANTED TO BE VERY CLEAR IN EXPLAINING WHAT THAT MEANS. IT REALLY MEANS TAKING THIS VERY ROBUST, COMPREHENSIVE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH, RIGHT, WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

WE LOOK AT QUALITATIVE DATA, AND WE LIVE WITH QUANTITATIVE DATA, AND WE USE ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE WORKING TO SOLVE.

AND ONCE WE DO THAT, WE IDENTIFY THE RISK FACTORS AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT LEADS TO MAKING THINGS SAFER OR BETTER, OR DECREASING AN ACTION THAT WE MAY FIND HARMFUL. FROM THAT INFORMATION, WE DEVELOP AND TEST THE STRATEGIES TO SEE WHAT WORKS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE BROUGHT ON A PIECE, WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF WE'RE HAVING REDUCTIONS IN HOMICIDES.

IF PEOPLE ARE IMPROVING IN THE PROGRAM AND IF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, WE WANT TO WORK TO REFINE THE ACTIVITIES AND THE WORK TO SCALE TO THE LEVEL OF NEED.

[00:25:02]

AND THEN WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ADOPTING THOSE STRATEGIES AND WE TELL THE STORY OF THAT SUCCESS.

NOW, A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S RELATIVELY NEW WHEN THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION WAS CREATED IN 2021, THERE WERE NO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS. THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW PROCESS, YOU KNOW.

BUT DURING THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE GUN SAFETY TASK FORCE, RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE FOR BRINGING ON SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS VIOLENCE FROM A COMMUNITY BASED STANDPOINT.

AND ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS THE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

A KEY PIECE IS THE FIRST CVI PROGRAM IN AUSTIN, AND IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE EXTREMELY COMPREHENSIVE TO WRAP AROUND ALL OF THE SERVICE OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION INTO ONE PROGRAM, WHICH WE THINK IT LEADS TO ITS SUCCESS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHEN WE WERE WORKING TO DEVELOP A TX PIECE, WE WORKED WITH APD AT THE TIME AND CONTINUALLY TO MAP OUT THE ROLES OF A, OF A PIECE AS WELL AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE EXPECTATION.

EXPECTATIONS WERE THAT A CVI PROGRAM IS NOT AN ENFORCEMENT ARM OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT IS SOMETHING SEPARATE BUT COMPLEMENTARY TO THE WORK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES AT PEACE WAS BROUGHT ON IN 2022.

AND THE WORK OF THE, OF A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS TO WORK WITH THE HIGHEST NEED INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE GUN, RIGHT? SO WE WORK IN HOTSPOT LOCATIONS WHERE HOMICIDES ARE THE MOST PREVALENT.

AND THEN THEY DO WORK SUCH AS CONFLICT MEDIATION.

THEY ESTABLISH PEACE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HAVING DISPUTES. THEY DO THIS THROUGH STREET OUTREACH, CASE MANAGEMENT. AND I THINK THAT THIS, FOCUS ON THIS, THIS COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY BASED ASPECT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE BEFORE IT HAPPENS OR INTERVENE RIGHT BEFORE IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

SO WHY COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION? NOW, THE REASON WHY WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS EXTREME, COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AS THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE WORKING TO SERVE TO SHOW EXTREME LOVE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH SHOWING UP FOR THEM.

SO A CRUCIAL COMPONENT OF THIS IS TRUST.

A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IS NOTHING IF IT'S NOT TRUSTED.

IT IS ALSO VERY INTENTIONAL WORKING WITH THE HIGHEST RISK SHOWING, SHOWING UP FOR PEOPLE, MEETING PEOPLE'S BASIC NEEDS AND PROVIDING WRAPAROUND SERVICES, HELPING INDIVIDUALS DEVELOP SKILLS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, IT'S VERY COMMUNITY BASED.

AND IT IS A PROVEN STRATEGY THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN ACROSS THE NATION TO REDUCE HOMICIDES AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

AND THEY DO THIS BY LOOKING AT THE DATA.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAM DATA TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HIGHEST NEED INDIVIDUAL. BUT ALSO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CRIME DATA TO SEE IF WE'RE HAVING AN IMPACT AND HAVING REDUCTIONS IN THOSE TARGETED AREAS.

AND THE GOAL IS ALSO TO REDUCE HOMICIDES.

NOW FOR OUR SERVICE AREA FOR OUR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM, A KEY PIECE IS KIND OF THE KIND OF THE GEORGIAN ACRES RUNDBERG NORTH LAMAR AREA.

AND THEN LIKE THE OLD TURF RIVERSIDE AREA.

AND SO THOSE WERE ESTABLISHED LOOKING AT HOMICIDE DATA FROM I THINK IT WAS LIKE 2021.

NOW SINCE 80 PEACE HAS BEEN IN OPERATION THEY HAVE CONDUCTED 44 CONFLICT MEDIATIONS.

76 I'M SORRY, FOR 2025.

NOT, NOT FROM ITS INCEPTION.

JUST TO BE CLEAR 76 SHOOTING RESPONSES, 81 DE-ESCALATION.

I KIND OF WANT TO DIG INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE BECAUSE THE CONFLICT MEDIATION IS,

[00:30:04]

IS IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY INTENSE.

AND IT'S REALLY DESIGNED TO BROKER THOSE PEACE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN WARRING FACTIONS OR INDIVIDUALS IN DISPUTE AND TO PREVENT RETALIATIONS.

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DO THAT.

IT IS EVIDENCE BASED AND SHOWN TO HAVE THOSE IMPACTS IN REDUCING VIOLENCE IN THAT WAY.

AND WHEN THERE IS A SHOOTING AT PEACE RESPONDS TO THE SCENE.

NOW THEY WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH INVESTIGATIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THEY WILL RESPOND TO THEIR, THE VICTIMS, THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED.

AND IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY DOES THE PROGRAM SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO THIS WORK, BUT THEY'RE SHOWING UP IN THE COMMUNITY SHOWING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE WORK AND SHOWING THAT THEIR DEDICATION TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND THE DE-ESCALATION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S LIKE ON THE FLY, SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO POP OFF AND AT ATX TEAM.

ATX PIECES TEAM IS VERY, VERY DEDICATED TO COOL THOSE TENSIONS AND TRY TO MAINTAIN SOME RELATIONSHIPS.

THEY'VE SERVED IN 2025, 792 CLIENTS.

THEY'VE DONE 9901 CASE STREET OUTREACH TOUCHES.

DID CASE MANAGEMENT OF 146 FOLKS 19 RESTORATIVE CIRCLES, 34 COMMUNITY EVENTS. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AS A CONSTELLATION AS A WHOLE IN OUR HOT SPOT LOCATIONS OF 2024, 2025, WE SAW 41.7% REDUCTIONS IN HOMICIDES.

AND THAT IS SIGNIFICANT.

A LOT OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO IS, IS, IS, IS I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A MISSION OF LOVE AND CARE AND THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED TO IT.

AND I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, THEY ALSO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER REFERRING FOLKS TO THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER TO GET SOME STABILIZATION SERVICES. MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS TRAUMA TREATMENT.

AND ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE DESIGNED TO BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE.

NOW, IN TERMS OF WORKING TOGETHER WITH COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION, APD NOTIFIES 8080 OF SHOOTINGS AND PROVIDES CRIME DATA FOR THE TARGETED AREA.

I WOULD SAY WE ALSO AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WE CAN GET THE DATA FROM APD OR FROM THE OPEN PORTAL FROM TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION.

WE DO DATA ANALYTICS IN-HOUSE.

AT PEACE DOES NOT GIVE APD INFORMATION.

WE WANT TO MAKE THAT VERY CLEAR.

THE WORK IS COMPLEMENTARY, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME.

RIGHT. BUT IT'S ALL WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL OF REDUCING HOMICIDES IN THE HOT SPOT LOCATIONS. AT PEACE AND OVP, WE HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WHERE WE DISCUSS THE VIOLENCE TRENDS KIND OF THE RESULTS OF THE CANVASING THEY DO WHEN THEY ARE DOING STREET OUTREACH. AND THEN WE ALSO DISCUSS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE ALONG THE WAY, WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO SEE HOW WE COULD HAVE A BIGGER IMPACT OR HOW WE CAN REFINE THINGS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

OKAY. AND NOW I'M GONNA PASS IT OVER TO A TEXT PIECE.

SEAN OLIVER AND EDDIE FRANZ.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SEAN OLIVER.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIFE ANEW, CO-FOUNDER OF AT PEACE.

THE FIRST THING THAT WE WANT TO SHARE.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

THANK YOU FOR NOT JUST BEING ON THE DAIS, BUT ALSO COMING OUT AND ASKING US QUESTIONS.

WE WELCOME THAT AND WE VALUE YOUR TIME.

AND SO RIGHT HERE, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION IN AUSTIN, WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN WHERE IT SAYS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BASED, COLLABORATIVE, MEANING WE STAY IN OUR LANE.

WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TO FOCUS ON.

WE KNOW THE POPULATION WE'RE THE FOCUS ON, BUT WE KNOW WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.

AND IT STARTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S EVERYTHING TO US WHEN IT COMES TO RELATIONSHIPS.

MICHELLE SAID IT EARLIER ABOUT TRUST.

BUT IF WE HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN'T STOP THINGS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.

WE CAN'T COME ON THE SCENE WHEN THINGS HAPPEN.

AND SO OUR MISSION IS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE BEFORE IT OCCURS.

THAT IS OUR HOPE. OUR HOPE IS TO ERADICATE VIOLENCE.

I KNOW THAT MAY SEEM RADICAL, BUT IF WE'VE SEEN IT GO FROM 90 TO 55, WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ERADICATE VIOLENCE.

BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US.

BUILD TRUST WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. HOW DO WE DO THAT? WHENEVER WE SHOW UP IN A COMMUNITY, WE SHOW UP.

AND THIS IS WHY WE WEAR OUR HATS.

THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A VAN.

WE DON'T HAVE IT TO BE FLASHY, BUT WE RUN INTO SITUATIONS WHERE WE COME INTO

[00:35:02]

COMMUNITIES. WE MAY HAVE SOMEONE WITH US.

WE MAY HAVE A CONTACT IN THAT COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHAT GETS US THERE.

BUT EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW ALL OF US.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE OUR BRANDING.

AND SO RIGHT THERE, THAT'S HOW WE BUILD TRUST.

WHENEVER THEY SEE AT PEACE, WE'RE NOT ARGUING, WE'RE NOT DISPUTING, WE'RE NOT YELLING.

WE'RE SHOWING UP TO TRY TO MEET A NEED, WHETHER THAT'S THERAPY, WHETHER THAT'S REFERRALS TO JOBS, WHETHER THAT'S FOOD, WHETHER THAT'S CLOTHING.

IT ALL WORKS TO GENERATE TRUST.

WE DIS WE DE-ESCALATE CONFLICTS BEFORE THEY BECOME SHOOTINGS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE'RE IN THE PARKS, REC YARDS, OR ON THE STREETS AT NIGHT, IF WE SEE A SITUATION WE KNOW, WE'RE TRAINED TO KNOW, AND WE BEHAVE IN A SAFE MANNER, WE WILL TRY TO STOP THINGS, BUT WE ARE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE WILL NOT PUT OURSELVES IN PURPOSE, HARM'S WAY.

HAVE THERE BEEN SITUATIONS WHERE THERE ARE GUNS, WHERE THERE ARE KNIVES, WHERE A SITUATION HAS GONE DOWN? YES, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TRAINING.

WE'RE NOT OUT HERE HAPHAZARDLY TALKING TO THE MOST VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS IN AUSTIN.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE ALSO GO INTO THE YOUTH FACILITIES AND THE JAILS, SO THAT WHEN WE RUN INTO SOME PEOPLE IN JAIL OR IN THE YOUTH FACILITY WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED, AND THEY'RE IN AND OUT, WHEN THEY SEE US IN THE STREET, THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, I'LL LISTEN TO YOU.

THAT FIRST TOUCH MATTERED WHEN THEY WERE LOCKED UP.

NEXT, WE CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SERVICES.

TO BE QUITE HONEST, ONE OF THOSE MEANINGFUL SERVICES IS TO HELP BURY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

OFTENTIMES IN THIS WORK, A MOTHER OR FATHER OR UNCLE OR A SISTER OR BROTHER FRIENDS, THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THAT BURIAL AND THEY NEED HELP, THAT IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE.

AND THEN THEY WILL FOLLOW UP AND TALK TO US.

ONE PARTICULAR STORY A YOUNG LADY'S 15 YEAR OLD SON WAS KILLED.

SHE DIDN'T SEEK THERAPY FOR THREE YEARS.

BUT WHEN WE STEP ON THE SCENE, WE TELL HIM, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO COME UP TO YOU NOW, EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO HELP YOU.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO RUN UP IN YOUR FACE WITH A CAMERA.

BUT WHEN THE CAMERAS GO AWAY, WHEN THE PEOPLE GO AWAY, WE'LL BE THERE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES.

WE'RE NOT GOD, BUT WE WILL REFER YOU.

AND WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP YOU.

WE STRENGTHEN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH COMMUNITY LED SOLUTIONS.

THIS IS WHY WE PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS.

SOME HAVE COME HERE. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AT PEACE, REALIZES WE NEED ALL OF US.

AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS THEY WANT TO HELP OR THEY WANT TO PROVIDE A SERVICE, WE LET THEM KNOW. FIRST AND FOREMOST, PLEASE UNDERSTAND WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS INDIVIDUALS.

SO SOME HELP. YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP US NECESSARILY IN THE STREET OUTREACH, BUT YOU CAN HELP US MAKE SANDWICHES.

YOU MAY NOT IN SOMEBODY'S. WHAT'S A SANDWICH? FOOD DEPRIVATION IS ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT CAN LEAD TO AN ACT OF VIOLENCE.

I'LL JUST SHARE THAT WITH YOU NEXT.

OUR ROLE, COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION IS A PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY, NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY.

I'M NOT COMMENTING ON LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I'M SAYING WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE COME INTO THE COMMUNITIES AND WE ADDRESS THE REASONS FOR PEOPLE HAVING GUNS, NOT SAYING THEY SHOULD HAVE THE GUNS, BUT IF WE ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF ISSUES, THEN WE CAN HOPEFULLY STOP THEM FROM COMMITTING AN ACT WHEREBY POLICE OR OTHER PARTIES NEED TO GET INVOLVED.

ONCE AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO PLAY OUR PART, BUT OUR PART, BY THE TIME THE POLICE ARE CALLED, THERE'S BEEN SOME SYSTEMS THAT HAVE FAILED.

WE ONLY TRY TO COME IN AND COMPLEMENT THOSE SYSTEMS, NOT TRYING TO TAKE THE PLACE THEREOF.

TRUSTED, EXPERIENCED COACHES.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUALS AT THE HIGHEST RISK OF VIOLENCE AND CONNECT WITH THEM TO RESOURCES THAT REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF FUTURE HARM.

SOMEBODY MAY SAY, WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW HALF THE TEAM HAS BEEN INVOLVED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, OR MY BACKGROUND, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE HERE.

I WAS PROVIDED A SECOND CHANCE AFTER A BAD DECISION THAT I MADE THAT CAUSED SOMEBODY TO LOSE THEIR LIFE. AND SO WE'RE NOT TALKING AT PEOPLE.

WE'RE TRYING TO TELL THEM WE UNDERSTAND.

AND WE'RE NOT SAYING WE UNDERSTAND FROM A BOOK.

WE UNDERSTAND FROM OUR MISTAKES, WE UNDERSTAND FROM OUR INCARCERATION.

WE UNDERSTAND. DO WE KNOW EVERYTHING? NO. BUT WE CAN TALK TO YOU AND TALK TO YOU IN A MANNER THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE THAT.

FINALLY, THE FOUNDATION OF EFFECTIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS COMMUNITY TRUST.

THE REASON I KEEP SAYING TRUST.

YOU GUYS ARE TRUSTED MESSENGERS.

THE POLICE ARE TRUSTED MESSENGERS.

OUR HIP OR OUR HOSPITAL VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PREVENTION SPECIALIST.

EVERYBODY TRUSTS SOMEBODY.

AND ALL WE'RE TRYING TO SAY IS WE'RE ON THE GROUND IN THE STREETS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO HAVE GUNS, WHO ARE APT TO SHOOT PEOPLE OR HAVE SHOT PEOPLE, OR WE'RE IN THE HOSPITALS TRYING TO PREVENT SOMEBODY FROM GETTING SHOT.

IF THERE IS NO TRUST, THERE IS NO HOPE IN THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY, WELL, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK IT WORKS? WELL, BEING A FORMER CRIMINAL, I WOULD SAY THIS MORE ACTS OF VIOLENCE AND

[00:40:01]

CRIME THAT I THOUGHT TO COMMIT WERE STOPPED BY A FRIEND AND ASSOCIATE TELLING ME, MAN, THAT'S NOT WORTH IT.

AND SO THAT'S THE MINDSET AND THAT'S THE BELIEF SYSTEM THAT I AND MY CO COWORKERS BRING INTO THIS. WE KNOW PEOPLE LISTEN TO PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN TRUST, AND THAT'S WHY WE TRY TO GAIN TRUST.

AND THAT'S WHY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WELL, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? THIS DOESN'T SEEM THAT THIS IS GOING TO EQUATE.

WE HAVE MOVED FURNITURE.

I'M BEING HONEST. THE FIRST THING I DID ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF AUSTIN AND DOUGLAS LANDING, THEY HAD A THREE STORY APARTMENT BUILDING AND WE'RE MOVING FURNITURE.

AND SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WHY ARE YOU MOVING FURNITURE? I SAID, IF YOU HELP PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED HELP, THEN THEY'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY. AND AFTER THAT, THAT'S HOW WE GOT INTO DOUGLAS LANDING CVI BEST PRACTICES.

SO IF SOMEONE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE DETAILS OF IT, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP BASED APPROACH THAT MEANS OUR CREDIBLE MESSENGERS OR TRUSTED MESSENGERS MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE.

WE DON'T SIT IN AN OFFICE AND HAVE PEOPLE COME TO US.

WE HAVE A 24 HOUR NUMBER.

WE HAVE TEAMS THAT WORK IN THE DAYTIME.

WE HAVE TEAMS THAT WORK IN THE NIGHT TIME.

WE DO HAVE OFFICE SPACES WHERE WE WILL DO CASE MANAGEMENT, BUT PRIMARILY OUR WORK IS ON THE STREETS.

THAT'S WHY THAT'S A 24 HOUR NUMBER.

WE HAVE TRAUMA INFORMED INTERVENTION.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS OUR RESPONSES ARE GROUNDED IN HOW VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT THERAPISTS, BUT WE HAVE THERAPISTS ON OUR STAFF AND THE HARVEST TRAUMA FOUNDATION OR THE TRAUMA CENTER.

WE REFER PEOPLE TO THEM OFTEN.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE, BUT THAT IS ONE PLACE THAT HAS BEEN A VITAL PART OF US STOPPING VIOLENCE PREVENTION, BECAUSE AFTER SOMEONE IS SHOT, WHAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT IS PEOPLE HAVE TO MOVE.

PEOPLE NEED FOOD, PEOPLE NEED TO CHANGE APARTMENTS.

AND THAT'S NOT EASY. AND THAT COSTS MONEY.

AND SO WE HAVE TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW US, BUT WE SEEK TO KNOW PEOPLE.

WE GO AND WE TABLE AT DIFFERENT EVENTS.

WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND WE TELL PEOPLE IF WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE SERVICE.

WE WILL CALL THE CITY.

WE WILL HAVE WE WILL TELL MICHELLE AT THE MEETING AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED SOME HELP FOR THIS, AND THEY'LL LET US KNOW PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T KNOW. SO THIS IS NOT JUST A A T PIECE.

THIS IS AN ECOSYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HAVE A RAPID RESPONSE.

THE REASON I'M SHAKING MY HEAD, WE'RE ON THE SCENE.

A LOT OF TIMES I'M SAYING THIS HUMBLY BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE AREAS.

THAT'S WHY WHEN WE SAY VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE, IF WE'RE IN THE HIGHEST RISK AREAS, GENERALLY STUFF GOES DOWN.

OR IF WE KNOW ABOUT A PARTY, A MAJOR PARTY OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CITY, WE'LL GO THROUGH THERE AND WE'LL SEND OUR GUYS.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS. SOMETIMES WHEN SITUATIONS HAVE OCCURRED, WE'RE THERE. WE KNOW OUR PART.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT AGAIN.

WE KNOW WHO WE'RE NOT AND WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

BUT SOMETIMES WHEN A BODY IS ON THE GROUND AND THERE'S UNREST AND THE POLICE HAVE NOT YET ARRIVED, THOUGH, THEY'RE THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY, THAT'S THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO TALK TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS. SO THERE'S NOT IMMEDIATE RETALIATION.

AND THAT'S WHERE OUR HOSPITAL VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION SPECIALIST, IF SOMEBODY'S GOING TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY'LL LET US KNOW, HEY, IT'S GOING DOWN AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF IT INSIDE THE HOSPITAL.

BUT THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THAT LONG TERM CASE MANAGEMENT.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE DON'T SIMPLY HELP ON THE STREETS.

WE ACTUALLY DO CASE MANAGEMENT.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED GOALS.

WE HAVE TOUCH POINTS. WE HAVE ASSESSMENTS, SOMETIMES THREE WEEK ASSESSMENTS, SOMETIMES 90 DAY ASSESSMENTS.

WE'RE NOT HAPHAZARDLY OR ACCIDENTALLY THINKING THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE.

WE ARE INTENTIONALLY TRAINED.

WE LIKE WHAT WE DO AND THAT'S WHY WE CASE MANAGE.

NO ONE HAS A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD TO BE CASE MANAGED.

THEY ARE CASE MANAGED UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO PROGRESS, BUT AS THEY PROGRESS, THEY LET US KNOW.

THEY'RE LIKE, MAN, I'M HAPPY, MAN, I GOT A JOB.

OR MAN, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO THERAPY FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER.

OR THERE'S ONE PARTICULAR LADY WHO'S 15 YEAR OLD SON DIED.

SHE NOW WORKS FOR AT PEACE.

WHY DOES SHE DO THAT? BECAUSE SHE GOT THE THERAPY THAT SHE NEEDED.

AND SHE SAID, I WANT TO GIVE BACK.

AND THAT'S CALLED MOMMY SPACE.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP SOLUTIONS DESIGNED AND LED BY THE COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T COME UP WITH BRIGHT IDEAS IN ONE OF THE LOCATIONS.

AND THE REASON THAT I DON'T WANT TO NAME NAMES, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE HEAR HOT SPOTS OR THEY HEAR, THIS IS A PLACE PEOPLE TRY TO LIVE UP TO THAT NAME.

BUT THERE'S A PARTICULAR COMPLEX THAT, FOR DECADES ON THE SOUTH SIDE HAS HAS BEEN KNOWN BY HEINOUS NAME.

WE'VE HELPED THROW BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY THIS.

I DON'T I'M NOT TRYING TO GET ANYBODY IN TROUBLE, BUT MR. MISTER VELAZQUEZ CAME TO ONE OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

IT MATTERS TO KIDS. IT MATTERS TO CITIZENS WHEN THEY SEE YOU.

I AM IN NO SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION.

TRYING TO SAY ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT WAS A GOOD THING.

AND THAT'S IN A PLACE WHERE SOME MURDERS HAD TAKEN PLACE.

THAT'S A PLACE THAT'S NOT KNOWN TO BE A NICE PLACE.

EVEN A LC1 OF THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY SEND TROUBLED PEOPLE.

SOME PEOPLE ON CITY COUNCIL HAVE COME.

[00:45:02]

SO I'M NOT TRYING TO UPLIFT ANYBODY.

I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL YOU IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT US.

WHEN YOU GUYS HELP US, WHEN EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM HELPS US, WE ALL WANT TO GO HOME SAFE.

SO IN CONCLUSION, WE HAVE DATA INFORMED DEPLOYMENT.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE FOCUS OUR RESOURCES WHERE THE HIGHEST RISK.

WE GET OUR MARCHING ORDERS FROM OVP AND THEN OUR RELATIONSHIPS OUT IN THE STREETS.

I NEED TO SAY THIS. THOSE AREAS ARE FOCUS AREAS.

THOSE ARE WHERE WE FOCUS.

BUT CRIME DOESN'T STOP IN THOSE AREAS.

SO WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN COVER THE WHOLE CITY OF AUSTIN.

BUT WE WILL TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

AND WE RELATE THAT TO MICHELLE, THAT, HEY, THIS IS OUR FOCUS.

BUT IF YOU SEE US OUT IN PFLUGERVILLE, YOU SEE US IN MAYNOR OR YOU SEE US IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN SOME INFORMATION THEY'VE BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND. THEY KEEP OUR FOCUS ON AS DATA DRIVEN, BUT SOMETIMES THINGS ARISE IN OTHER PLACES AND WE TRY TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION.

THAT MEANS COORDINATED PARTNERS, EACH WITH A DISTINCT ROLE.

WHEN WE WHEN WE STARTED THAT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY THEY THROW THIS EVENT IN THE HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT EVERY YEAR.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO MEET A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELP AND VICTIM SERVICES.

BUT IF WE HADN'T PARTICIPATED, WE WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THOSE RESOURCES IF THEY HAD NOT INVITED US.

THE SROS AT SCHOOL INVITE US TO EVENTS AND THEY SAY, HEY, WILL YOU COME TABLE? THAT'S HOW WE GET IN THE COMMUNITIES DEEPER.

THAT'S HOW WE GET INTO SCHOOLS DEEPER.

WE'RE INVITED. AND MY FINAL COMMENT, COMMUNITY TRUST AGAIN, THE FOUNDATION BENEATH EVERY PRACTICE ABOVE, AS YOU AS YOU GUYS AND LADIES ARE MAKING DECISIONS. I JUST WANT TO WITH CONFIDENCE SAY ACCORDING TO THE DATA.

ACCORDING TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR WORK, WE WILL HAVE A RETURN OF INVESTMENT, WHICH IS A SAFE LIFE, AND I CANNOT QUANTIFY HOW MUCH THAT VALUE HAS TO YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS EDDIE FRANZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GENTLE JOBS, CO-FOUNDER OF AT PEACE.

AND IT'S AN HONOR TO SPEAK FOR YOU TODAY.

I'M GOING TO BE REAL SHORT AND BRIEF.

JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT APD IS AND WHAT AT PEACE IS AND WHAT WE ARE NOT.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THOSE DISTINCTIONS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THOSE DISTINCTIONS.

THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS THROUGH AN ANALOGY.

AND I'VE SHARED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT I'LL SHARE IT AGAIN TODAY.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT A HIGH SCHOOL OR ANY SCHOOL REALLY AND THERE'S A FIGHT THAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN AT THE END OF THAT DAY, WHO KNOWS ABOUT IT FIRST, THE KIDS, THE STUDENTS.

AND THEY ALL KNOW THEY KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.

THEY KNOW WHO DID IT, WHO'S GOING TO DO IT, WHY IT'S HAPPENING, WHERE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT TIME IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TEACHERS FIND OUT ABOUT THAT FIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENS, AND THEY'RE MUCH LIKE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY RESPOND TO THE INCIDENT AND THEY BREAK IT UP AND THEY STOP THE VIOLENCE.

AND THEN THE PRINCIPAL FINDS OUT ABOUT IT THE NEXT DAY. AND THEY'RE MUCH LIKE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DOLE OUT THE PUNISHMENT.

BUT THERE IS ONLY ONE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD HAVE STOPPED THAT FIGHT BEFORE IT HAPPENED. AND THAT'S THE STUDENTS.

AND IN THIS CASE, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY.

THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT THE VIOLENCE THAT'S ABOUT TO TAKE, ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE. 90% OF THE TIME.

THEY KNOW WHO IS ABOUT TO DO IT.

THEY KNOW WHY IT'S ABOUT TO GET DONE, AND THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S EVEN GOING TO HAPPEN MOST TIMES. AND IF YOU ARE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, YOU CAN BE PRIVY TO SOME OF THIS INFORMATION DAYS, WEEKS BEFORE IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

AND THAT'S WHAT A KEY PIECE DOES.

WE DID NOT FIND PEOPLE FROM HOUSTON AND DALLAS AND BRING THEM INTO AUSTIN AND THEN PLACE THEM IN A COMMUNITY AND SAY, GO GET TRUSTED.

WE FOUND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AND SOMETIMES OLDER MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN IN THAT SPECIFIC COMMUNITY GEORGIAN ACRES, RIVERSIDE, EAST EASTSIDE, AUSTIN.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN THAT SPECIFIC COMMUNITY THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

AND TO BE HONEST, A LOT OF OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS WERE THE ONES CAUSING THE PROBLEMS BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT SITUATION, BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE NOW MOVING PAST THAT, THEY HAVE TRUST, THEY HAVE CREDIBILITY, AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK INTO THESE SITUATIONS, MUCH LIKE THE CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM AND THE, THE HEAD PERSON OF THE BAND COULD HAVE SPOKE TO THAT SCHOOL AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

LET'S FIND ANOTHER WAY.

OTHER THAN FIGHTING THAT'S AT PEACE, THAT'S CVI.

THAT IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO STOPPING VIOLENCE.

AND IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY PROACTIVE APPROACHES THAT HAS EVER DATA DRIVEN, BEEN PROVEN TO WORK. NOT IN ONE COMMUNITY, NOT IN TEN, BUT IN HUNDREDS ACROSS THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY.

AND IT HAS DECADES OF EVIDENCE TO BACK IT UP.

IF YOU ACTUALLY DEPLOY A TRUE CVI TEAM THAT IS TRAINED AND EQUIPPED AND RUNS APPROPRIATELY, YOU WILL SEE A VIOLENCE REDUCTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.

WE HAVE BUILT THIS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BUILT AN ECOSYSTEM THAT IS SECOND TO NONE,

[00:50:05]

IN MY OPINION, AND THEN ALSO HIRED THE PEOPLE, THE RIGHT PEOPLE THAT COULD SPEAK INTO THOSE SITUATIONS.

SO WHILE A PD IS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED AND A MUST HAVE IN THE CITY AT PEACE IS ALSO AN ADDITION TO THAT, NOT SUBTRACTING FROM THAT AN ADDITION TO THAT, IT IS SOMETHING THAT APD CANNOT DO.

AND APD DOES STUFF THAT WE CANNOT DO.

BUT IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU COMBINE THOSE TWO FORCES TOGETHER, YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE BEST, BEST OPPORTUNITY TO STOP HOMICIDES AND VIOLENCE IN A COMMUNITY.

YOU NEED THEM BOTH, BUT THEY ARE VERY DISTINCTIVE THINGS.

NOW, HOW WE WORK TOGETHER IS AMAZING ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO GIVE SOME FLOWERS TO A P D CURRENTLY.

WHEN THE CHIEF FIRST GOT INTO POSITION, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS SHE DID WAS BRING US IN AND TALK TO US ABOUT I UNDERSTAND CVI, MY LEADERSHIP TEAM UNDERSTAND CVI AND WE SUPPORT CVI. THAT IS NOT NORMAL.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE IT A LOT OF TIMES A CVI TEAM CAN LOOK LIKE A THREAT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT BUDGET.

FROM THE BEGINNING, WE WERE ALWAYS.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM.

WE WANT TO BE ADDED TO BECAUSE WE THINK BOTH ARE IMPORTANT.

NOW, HAVING SAID THAT THE WAY WE WORK TOGETHER IS A COLLABORATIVE, HIGH LEVEL COLLABORATION.

OUR STREET OUTREACH TEAMS DO NOT HAVE ANY INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE DON'T WANT THEM TO.

IT DOES NOT BENEFIT ANYBODY AND THEY LOSE THEIR CREDIBILITY AND THE TRUST.

IF THAT'S THE CASE. SEAN AND MYSELF HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMANDERS, LIEUTENANTS. WE OFTENTIMES GO THROUGH OVP AND MICHELLE TO COMMUNICATE.

BUT WE COLLABORATE ON WHERE ARE THE HOT SPOTS? WHY DO WE THINK IT'S HOT AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ALLEVIATE THAT SITUATION? WHAT WE DO NOT DO IS WE ARE NOT AN ARM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE BADGES, WE DON'T CARRY GUNS. WE'RE LITERALLY PEOPLE FROM THIS COMMUNITY THAT CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WE'RE SERVING AND ARE WILLING.

AND I KID YOU NOT, THIS IS NOT HYPERBOLE.

WE ARE WILLING TO STAND BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO KILL EACH OTHER AND TALK THEM DOWN. IS THAT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS? YEAH. BUT IT IS THE ONLY THING, THE ONLY WAY THAT THAT TYPE OF VIOLENCE CAN BE STOPPED BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

NOW, ONCE WE STOP IT, WE HAVE TO BACK THAT UP WITH RESOURCES.

BECAUSE ONCE YOU CALM THE SITUATION DOWN, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT, KEEP THAT SITUATION FROM PILING BACK UP, IS TO REDIRECT THE ENERGY, REDIRECT THE ENERGY INTO SUCCESS, REDIRECT THE ENERGY INTO CAREERS, REDIRECT THE ENERGY INTO COUNSELING OR THERAPY OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, BUT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES IN THAT MOMENT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'RE STANDING BETWEEN THESE TWO PEOPLE. BEFORE LONG, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING THAT SAME INTERACTION AGAIN.

RESOURCES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS STOPPING THE ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING.

WE DO NOT GATHER INTELLIGENCE FOR INVESTIGATIONS.

WE WON'T, WE WILL NOT.

WE DON'T PROVIDE DATA.

WE DON'T PROVIDE INFORMATION.

OUR JOB IS VERY. IT IS VERY DELICATE.

I MIGHT WALK INTO A PERSON'S HOUSE OR ONE OF MY TRUSTED MESSENGERS MIGHT WALK INTO A PERSON'S HOUSE AND SEE THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES LEGALLY.

THAT IS NOT OUR PURPOSE.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO CONVINCE THAT INDIVIDUAL TO DO SOMETHING BETTER WITH THEIR LIFE.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO CONVINCE THAT INDIVIDUAL NOT TO SHOOT SOMEBODY THE NEXT DAY LIKE THEY WERE PLANNING ON DOING SO.

WE DO NOT SHARE INFORMATION. WE DO NOT GATHER INTELLIGENCE.

WE DO NOT BUILD CRIMINAL CASES.

YOU WILL NEVER, EVER HEAR US TURNING OVER ANY INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE CITY OR ANYONE ELSE. WE WOULD LOSE CREDIBILITY AND TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC IMMEDIATELY AND AT PEACE WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE UP THE DOORS.

AND ALL OF THIS WOULD BE FOR NOTHING.

THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND IT WON'T HAPPEN. OUR CREDIBILITY DEPENDS ON COMMUNITY TRUST.

YOU WILL HEAR THAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

ONE MISTAKE BY XPS CAN COST A MONTH, A YEAR OF COMMUNITY TRUST.

AND SO WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT TRUST AT ALL COSTS.

BUT WE HAVE THE SAME SHARED OUTCOMES AS APD.

WE WANT FEWER SHOOTINGS.

WE WANT REDUCED RETALIATION, STRONGER FAMILIES, INCREASED COMMUNITY TRUST, AND SAFER NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT IS 100%.

ALL OF OUR COMBINED GOAL, INCLUDING OVP, INCLUDING THIS COUNCIL.

SO WHILE WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, WE ARE BOTH NEEDED.

AND WE WORK TOGETHER, WE COLLABORATE AND WE HAVE THE SAME OUTCOME.

AND LASTLY OUR CURRENT LANDSCAPE, VIOLENCE IN AUSTIN REMAINS CONCENTRATED WITHIN A SMALL NUMBER OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND SOCIAL NETWORKS, MAKING FOCUSED INTERVENTION BOTH PRACTICAL AND EFFECTIVE.

THIS WILL ALWAYS, NOT ALWAYS, BUT IT WILL TYPICALLY BE THE CASE THAT MOST OF YOUR HOMICIDES AND MOST OF YOUR VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING BY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE IN VERY ISOLATED LOCATIONS.

WE ARE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES, AND IF THOSE COMMUNITIES MOVE OR THOSE AREAS

[00:55:03]

MOVE, WE WILL BE IN THOSE NEW AREAS.

YOU MUST BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS THE HIGHEST RISK IN ORDER TO LOWER THAT RISK AND CHANGE SOCIAL NORMS. WE HAVE PROVEN STRATEGIES, TRUSTED OUTREACH WORKERS, HOSPITAL BASED INTERVENTION, YOUTH MENTORING, RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, HOUSING STABILITY AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.

THAT IS A MOUTHFUL, BY THE WAY.

THOSE ARE JUST WORDS ON A LIST RIGHT NOW.

BUT I PROMISE YOU, THE GRAY HAIRS I HAVE ON MY BEARD AND ON THE TOP OF MY HEAD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THOSE THINGS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THAT DEAL.

THAT IS A LOT. AND AT PEACE DOES ALL OF THOSE OR ARE EXTREMELY CONNECTED TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO THEM. THESE ARE THE SOCIAL NORM CHANGING ACTIVITIES THAT MUST TAKE PLACE IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT.

IF YOU CAN GIVE A PERSON THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED AND THEY MUST HAVE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THEY BECOME SUCCESSFUL.

I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE WE DON'T HAVE SECRET SAUCE AND AT PEACE.

WE'RE JUST THERE WHEN YOU NEED US, WE'RE THERE WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING, WE'RE THERE WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE, WE'LL GO WITH YOU TO GO GET IT.

THAT'S THE SECRET. IT'S THE SUPPORT THAT A PERSON IN IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WILL ALWAYS HAVE. AND THE THE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS THAT WE DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS DON'T HAVE THAT SAME SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE THERE FOR THEM.

WE DO HAVE SOME REMAINING GAPS.

SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IS ABSOLUTELY A PARAMOUNT IN THIS CITY TO MOVE FORWARD.

WE ARE FIGHTING EVERY YEAR FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUDGET OR NOT TO GET CUTS ON THE BUDGET, OR TO GET MORE FUNDING OR TO BE INCREASED, OR TO WHATEVER, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. WE ARE FIGHTING ON A DAILY BASIS.

OVP IS FIGHTING ON A NATIONAL SCALE, ON A STATE SCALE AND ON A LOCAL SCALE, AND WE ARE DOING THE SAME.

IT IS, IT IS PARAMOUNT TO THE SUCCESS TO GET THIS FIXED.

ADDITIONAL TRUSTED EXPERIENCE. COACHES, WE NEED THIS.

CVI IS A RESOURCE BASED AND A PERSONNEL BASED PROGRAM.

WITHOUT PERSONNEL, TRUSTED MESSENGERS, CREDIBLE MESSENGERS, YOU DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM WITHOUT RESOURCES GETTING TO THE PUBLIC.

YOU DO NOT HAVE A PROGRAM.

YOU NEED THEM BOTH. EXPANDED HOSPITAL RESPONSE RESPONSE CAPACITY.

THE MORE HOSPITALS WE HAVE, MORE TRAUMA ONE HOSPITALS THAT WE HAVE TEAMS IN, THE BETTER IT WILL BE MORE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF A SHOOTER IN THIS CITY IS DROPPING DAILY.

WHEN THIS STUDY WAS DONE IN 2018 2019, THE AVERAGE AGE WAS LIKE 28 TO 35.

I PROMISE YOU, IT'S IT'S WAY BELOW THAT.

WE'RE TALKING TEENS NOW ARE THE ONES THAT ARE HAVING THE GUNS, THREATENING TO USE THE GUNS AND POPPING OFF IN NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE NEED MORE SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE. IT'S A CLICHE BECAUSE IT'S TRUE.

AND IF WE CAN HELP AND HEAL THE HURT, THEN THE HURTING STOPS.

WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES AT JAIL TO JOBS.

IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE, YOU KNOW, PROUD OF. WE WILL PROVIDE CAREERS FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE IN THE PAST THAT ARE HIGH RISK. WE BUILT AN ENTIRE PROGRAM TO HELP THEM GET MORE JOBS.

MORE CONNECTIONS WITH HIRING PARTNERS WOULD BE A HUGE WIN FOR THIS AND FOR CVI HOUSING STABILITY. IT IS FOREIGN TO ME TO NOT KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING TO LAY MY HEAD AT NIGHT. I'VE NEVER FELT THAT.

NOT ONE DAY IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

BUT COMING FROM THE LIFE THAT I LIVED, EVEN WITH HOUSING STABILITY, IF I DID NOT HAVE A HOUSE OR A PLACE TO LAY MY HEAD AT NIGHT, I PROMISE YOU, WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WOULD HAVE TOOK ONE.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT PROBLEM IN MY LIFE, AND I WAS STILL A THREAT TO THIS SOCIETY.

WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT HOUSING IS STABILIZED FOR THE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE STREETS RIGHT NOW AND JAIL TO JOBS, LIFE ANEW, AT PEACE OVER A LARGE EMPHASIS ON WHAT WE DO IS GETTING PEOPLE HOUSING THAT'S STABLE, AND THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY HAVE THE MOST INTERACTION WITH. WE NEED TO TRUST PROTECTIVE TRUST, PROTECTIVE INFORMATION SHARING.

LET ME REPHRASE THAT. WE NEED TO SHARE INFORMATION IN A WAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN TRUST IT. THE COMMUNITY CAN TRUST THAT WE'RE NOT SHARING BAD INFORMATION.

APD CAN TRUST THAT. WE'RE BEING DILIGENT WITH WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE NEED TO TRUST THAT APD HAS GIVEN US THE BEST INFORMATION.

BUT TRUST IS THE PARAMOUNT IN ALL OF THIS.

AT PEACE IS HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY FIRST AND EVERYONE ELSE SECOND, AND THAT HAS TO CONTINUE ON.

OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, SCHOOLS.

HOSPITALS. FAITH COMMUNITIES.

COURTS. AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[01:00:01]

WHEN I SAY WE HAVE AN ECOSYSTEM SECOND TO NONE, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN ECOSYSTEM THAT REPRESENTS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT THERE. AND THE BETTER AND THE LARGER WE CAN GROW THAT, THE MORE OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN FIND TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED.

WE ARE HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE HERE FOR THE CITY.

WE WON'T GO ANYWHERE. AND LIKE SEAN SAID, WE MIGHT BE FUNDED TO, TO OPERATE IN VERY SMALL NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE WILL LEAVE NOBODY BEHIND IF WE CAN HELP IT.

NOW, IF WE WANT TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY, WE NEED TO INCREASE THE FUNDING AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND WE OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR CONCERNS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. I'D LIKE TO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I GOT A COUPLE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

Y'ALL MENTIONED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LIFE ANEW, JAIL TO JOBS AT PEACE. CAN YOU ILLUSTRATE FOR MY COLLEAGUES HOW EACH OF THOSE ARE INTERCONNECTED TO THIS EFFORT? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW I'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME NOW, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO, TO HIGHLIGHT HOW EACH ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS IS WORKING TOGETHER TO FOR CVI.

SO I'LL START WITH JAIL TO JOBS AND THEN SEAN CAN HIT LIFE ANEW.

JAIL TO JOBS. IS A NONPROFIT HERE IN BEND IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW.

AND WE HELP YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE IN THE PAST ARE OR HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS. GET JOB TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENT.

WE DO WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

WE DO MENTORING. WE DO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING.

AND I WOULD SAY VAST NUMBER OF OUR CASE MANAGERS AT PEACE CLIENTS GO TO JAIL TO JOBS BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, ONCE THEY TRUST WHAT OUR VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS ARE SAYING IS, OKAY, NOW WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO PUT THE GUN DOWN NOW WHAT? WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE THIS ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, WELDING, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, CULINARY.

WE HAVE ALL OF THESE PATHWAYS TO NOT JUST GET A JOB, BUT TO START A CAREER.

AND THEN ONCE YOU GET INTO THAT TRAINING, WE SUPPORT YOU WITH THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.

YOU NEED TO MAINTAIN THAT TRAINING, BUT ALSO THE SOFT SKILLS NEEDED TO KEEP THE JOB THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO GET THEM.

AND THEN UPON GRADUATION, WE DO JOB PLACEMENT, AND WE DO FOLLOW UP UP TO A YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY IN THAT JOB AND THAT THEY'RE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND THE NEW PATH THAT THEY'RE TAKING.

AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AT PEACE, A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE'RE DEALING WITH.

THEY WOULD LOVE A PATHWAY OUT.

THEY JUST DON'T KNOW. AND SO SEAN'S TEAM AND MY TEAM GET THE THE THE BEST ABILITY TO SAY, GO TO JAIL, TO JOBS. NOT ONLY WILL WE PUT YOU THROUGH THIS PROGRAMING, WE WILL PAY YOU TO GO THROUGH THE PROGRAMING.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME WAS TO BE ABLE TO PAY OUR KIDS A, A STIPEND SO THAT THEY COULD SUPPORT THEMSELVES WHILE THEY GO THROUGH THE TRAINING. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DO. IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE PROUD OF. AND WE WILL BE HERE FOR A LONG TIME SUPPORTING THE CITY IN THAT WAY.

SO FOR LIFE ANEW, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE IN A ISD FROM KINDERGARTEN TO 12TH GRADE.

WE'RE AT COMMUNITY FIRST, WHICH HELPS THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

WE'RE AT THE ARCH. WE'RE IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE ARE DISPUTES.

AND SO WHAT THAT HAS LOOKED LIKE, WHETHER IT WAS A COMMUNITY DISPUTE, A SCHOOL DISPUTE, OR WHETHER WE MET THEM WHEN THEY WERE BEHIND BARS, OR WE MET THEM WHEN THEY WERE IN JUVENILE FACILITY, OR WE MET THEM ON PROBATION, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP THEM REALLY DEAL WITH TRAUMA BECAUSE OUR FOCUS IS OUR METHODOLOGY IS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.

AND SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS WE GIVE THEM MENTORS, WE GIVE THEM A PLACE TO COME THAT'S A SAFE SPACE.

AND WE EVEN COLLABORATE WITH THE COURT SYSTEM FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GUN CASES, IF THEY'RE UNDER THE AGE OF 24.

AND SO WE'RE WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THEM IN THE COMMUNITY OR IN INCARCERATION OR ON THE STREETS OR IN THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

WE'RE ABLE JUST TO BE THERE TO BE WHAT THEY NEED, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO REFER THEM TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

WHAT I SHARE WITH PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU CAN GIVE PEOPLE FOOD, CLOTHING, MONEY, A HOUSE, BUT IF YOU HAVE NOT HELPED THEM DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THEIR NATURAL MINDS, THEN THEY MAY CONTINUE TO REVOLVE IN THE SAME CIRCLE.

WE TRIED THROUGH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES TO BRING THAT HEALING FROM TRAUMA, AND WE'RE A TRAUMA INFORMED WHEN WE DO IT.

AND I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING.

SO WHEN OVP WAS LOOKING TO BRING A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THERE WASN'T ONE.

AND SO WE WERE HOPING TO GET ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD VARIOUS STRENGTHS.

AND SO WE WERE LUCKY THAT JAILS TO JOBS AND LIFE ANEW APPLIED FOR THE SOLICITATION.

QUITE FRANKLY, THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES AT THAT TIME, PEOPLE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS CONCEPT WAS.

AND WE WERE ALSO LUCKY THAT WE WERE PART OF THE WHITE HOUSE COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION COLLABORATIVE, WHICH ALSO PROVIDED US WITH A LOT OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE.

AND IT AFFORDED US THE ABILITY TO GET JAILS TO JOBS IN LIFE AND DO A LOT OF TRAINING.

[01:05:04]

AND ALSO WE EMBEDDED TRAINING WITHIN OUR CONTRACTS.

SO AT PEACE IS A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM.

AND IT'S A COLLABORATIVE BETWEEN JAILS TO JOBS AND LIFE ANEW, LEVERAGING ALL OF THEIR STRENGTHS AND ADDING THE ADDITIONAL WRAPAROUND SERVICES AND SUPPORTS OF A CVI PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHY I THINK THEY'RE SO SUCCESSFUL.

YEAH. NO, NO. ABSOLUTELY.

ON SLIDE 25, LISTED PROVEN STRATEGIES INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND HOUSING STABILITY.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON HOW MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND HOUSING STABILITY HELP REDUCE VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITIES YOU WORK IN? YES.

I'M GOING TO SAY THAT IT'S WHEN YOU HAVE LIVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE A 12 YEAR OLD CAN HEAR A GUNSHOT AND KNOW WHAT CALIBER IT IS.

THAT'S TRAUMA. THAT'S NORMAL TO THEM.

THEY ACTUALLY PLAY IT LIKE IT'S A GAME. OH, THAT WAS A 45.

NO, THAT WASN'T A 45. THAT WAS A NINE MILLIMETER. NO, THAT WAS A 45. MAN, I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S A GAME TO THEM.

AND IF YOU GROW UP LIKE THAT, THAT IS NORMAL TO YOU.

YOU'RE NOT EVEN AFRAID OF IT.

BUT YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU'RE TRAUMATIZED BY THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT YOU'VE HEARD A GUNSHOT IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

THAT IS A PROBLEM. AND IF YOU START AT THAT, THE TRAUMA CAN ONLY GET WORSE FROM THERE.

YOU HAVE FAMILY INTERACTIONS, YOU HAVE STREET INTERACTIONS, YOU HAVE DRUG DEALS GONE WRONG.

YOU HAVE BEING SHOT AT, YOU BULLIED AT SCHOOL, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. THAT MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT IS THE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT YOU CAN ADD TO A PROGRAM.

NOW, GETTING HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE MENTAL HEALTH AND TAKE THERAPY IS VERY DIFFICULT, WHICH IS WHY YOU NEED TRUSTED MESSENGERS WHO ALSO TAKE MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY. ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS GET FREE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH OUR ORGANIZATION, THROUGH JAIL TO JOBS. IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO PAY FOR IT FOR THROUGH OVP, WE PAY FOR IT OURSELVES BECAUSE OUR GUYS AND OUR GIRLS NEED TO BE SAFE, THEY NEED TO BE HEALTHY AND THEY NEED TO BE HAPPY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO INSTRUCT THE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS THAT THIS IS WHAT'S MADE ME HEALTHY. THIS IS WHAT'S HEALED MY TRAUMA.

THIS IS WHAT'S ALLOWED ME TO MOVE ON.

AND FOR HOUSING STABILITY, YOU CANNOT START A STABLE LIFE IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT. I WE'VE HAD I, I'LL GIVE YOU A PERFECT EXAMPLE.

WE HAD A YOUNG MAN THAT WAS IN OUR PROGRAM ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

HE WAS COMING INTO WORK THAT OR COMING INTO THE OFFICE THAT DAY.

IT WAS ABOUT 830 IN THE MORNING.

AND ONE OF MY DIRECTORS OF THAT FACILITY WALKS UP TO HIM INTRODUCE.

HEY, GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU DOING? HE WAS GRUMPY. HE MOUTHED OFF TO HIM.

THEY GOT IN AN ARGUMENT TO THE POINT WHERE THE DIRECTOR SENT HIM HOME, AND I AND I WALKED IN AT THAT TIME AND I WAS LIKE, HEY, WHAT HAPPENED? THAT'S ONE OF OUR BEST KIDS.

WHAT HAPPENED? HE'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, MAN. HE CAME IN HERE TALKING NONSENSE AND DA DA DA DA DA AND AND WAS FLIPPING OFF AT HIS MOUTH.

AND I WAS LIKE, ALRIGHT, HOLD ON, I WALK OUTSIDE.

I CAUGHT HIM AT THE BUS STOP.

I SAID, COME HERE, LET ME TALK TO YOU. WHAT HAPPENED THIS MORNING? BECAUSE THIS AIN'T YOU.

SOMETHING HAPPENED AND IT'S THROWN YOUR WHOLE DAY OFF.

WHAT HAPPENED? HE GOES, MAN, ON THE WAY OVER HERE, ME AND MY MOM GOT IN AN ARGUMENT.

SHE SAYS, I CAN'T COME HOME TONIGHT, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

THE KID STARTED HIS DAY TRYING TO IMPROVE HIMSELF AND CRASHED OUT IN FIVE MINUTES BECAUSE HE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT WHERE HE WAS GOING TO SLEEP.

THAT KID WAS 17 AT THE TIME.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOUSING STABILITY AND RESOURCES AND MENTAL HEALTH AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM NOT JUST A WAY OUT, BUT A AYE GOVERNED, CARED FOR, LOVING WAY OUT, THAT'S HOW THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CITYWIDE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE EXISTED WHERE SOMEBODY'S LIKE, HERE'S THE SOLUTION. GO TO THIS ORGANIZATION, SIGN UP FOR THEIR PROGRAM, AND YOU'LL GET BETTER.

BUT ONE, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SIGN UP FOR THE PROGRAM. THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT.

THEY DON'T KNOW ANYBODY OVER THERE. AND YOU JUST COLD HANDED THEM OFF TO SOMETHING THEY'LL NEVER DO. A LOVING, SUPPORTIVE PATHWAY FORWARD MEANS YOU GO WITH THEM, YOU FIGURE IT OUT WITH THEM.

YOU FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO HOME AND LAY YOUR HEAD ON ON THE BED AT NIGHT, I CAN'T.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY HOTEL ROOMS WE'VE BOUGHT IN FOR 4 OR 5 DAYS UNTIL WE FIGURED THAT PROBLEM OUT. BECAUSE IF YOU RELEASE THAT KID WITH NOWHERE TO STAY, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES VIOLENCE COMES AFTER THAT.

WHETHER THEY ROB SOMEBODY FOR THE HOTEL FEE, WHETHER THEY KICK DOOR SOMEBODY, WHETHER THEY SLEEP IN SOMEBODY'S CAR.

HOUSING STABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE PARAMOUNT IN REVERSING THE HOMICIDE, REVERSING THE HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR AND GETTING THEM ON A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.

THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.

THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR THAT ONE.

ONE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW DOES THE LACK OF SUSTAINABLE FUNDING AFFECT YOUR WORK, VIOLENCE REDUCTION AND COMMUNITY TRUST IN YOUR CVI WORK?

[01:10:03]

SIMPLY PUT, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INDIVIDUALS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES LIKE WE DID IN 2025. AN EXAMPLE, MICHELLE SAID.

WHEN WE STARTED, AS WE STARTED, WE LEARNED WE WERE TRAINED, BUT WHEN WE HAD A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE, WE HAVE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER THEY'RE ADULTS OR CHILDREN.

AND WHEN WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING, WE CAN'T HIRE THEM.

AND THEN IF WE DON'T HAVE TANGIBLE RESOURCES FOR THEM, ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL REFER.

THAT'S WHERE A GROUP CALLED DREAM TOGETHER 2030, WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER A LOT OF BUSINESSES AND PHILANTHROPISTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND A P D WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT ONLY BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.

SO WHEN WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT'S NOT A BODY TO INTERVENE, TO MENTOR. AND THAT'S ALSO NOT A SUSTAINABLE WAY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR FOOD INSECURITY OR, OR DETRACTS IN EARLY EDUCATION, BECAUSE WE DO MENTORSHIP TOO.

SO THAT'S WHERE IT SHOWS UP FROM A BUDGETARY POINT.

THE RESULTS OF THE PERSONNEL AND THE RESOURCE.

GETTING TO THE COMMUNITY IS A LAGGING STATISTIC.

SO LAST YEAR I HAD TO LAY OFF THREE OF MY EMPLOYEES, THREE OF MY STAFF, THREE OF MY CREDIBLE MESSENGERS. IF NOTHING'S CHANGED, THEY WILL STAY LAID OFF.

BUT LET'S SAY WE GOT A BUDGET INCREASE TODAY.

RIGHT NOW WE GOT A BUDGET INCREASE.

I WOULD THEN GO OUT AND HIRE TRUSTED MESSENGERS, WHICH WOULD TAKE ME ABOUT 4 TO 5, MAYBE EVEN SIX MONTHS TO TRAIN ADEQUATELY AND TEACH HOW TO DO THE JOB, LET ALONE THEY HAVE TO BUILD UP A CASELOAD IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

IT IS A LAGGING STATISTIC.

WHEN THEN THE NEXT YEAR THEY'RE LIKE, OH, FUNDING IS CUT.

WELL, THEN I LOSE MY MY TWO NEWEST THAT I JUST SPENT HALF THE YEAR TRAINING AND THEY'RE NOW ACTUALLY BECOMING EFFECTIVE, I LOSE THEM.

THIS IS A PERSONNEL BUSINESS PERSONNEL.

WHEN YOU FIND A ROCK STAR, YOU CANNOT LET THEM GO.

BUT IF FUNDING KEEPS GOING UP AND DOWN, I'M HIRING AND FIRING AND HIRING AND FIRING BECAUSE THE THE BUDGET REDUCTION DOESN'T COME OUT OF INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE I STILL NEED THE VEHICLES, WHETHER I HAVE ONE PERSON OR TEN, I STILL NEED THE LOCATION, WHETHER I HAVE ONE PERSON OR TEN, I STILL NEED THE INSURANCE, WHETHER I HAVE ONE PERSON OR TEN.

WHAT GOES WITH THE BUDGET GOING UP AND DOWN IS PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES.

THE ONLY TWO THINGS THAT ACTUALLY AFFECT THE HOMICIDE RATE AND THE VIOLENCE RATE IN THE CITY ARE THE PERSONNEL AND THE RESOURCES WE COULD PROVIDE.

SO SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IS EVERYTHING FOR FOR A CVI MODEL.

IN THE SAME WAY, IT'S EVERYTHING FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT MODEL.

YOU CAN'T BE GOING EVERY YEAR WONDERING IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CONTRACT OR NOT.

WE SAW WHAT THAT DID TO APD YEARS AGO, AND WE SAW THE BENEFIT OF IT BEING LOCKED IN NOW IS THAT THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET FUNDED, AND THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECRUIT AND BRING PEOPLE IN AND TRAIN.

THAT'S MASSIVELY IMPORTANT FOR THEM JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS FOR US.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE CONTINUED FUNDING.

WE HAVE TO HAVE FUNDING THAT ISN'T GOING TO BE GOING UP AND DOWN EVERY QUARTER, BECAUSE I'LL BE HONEST, I SPEND LOTS OF HOURS MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FUNDING EVERY YEAR THAT I'M NOT SPENDING, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THE BEST THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

SO A SUSTAINABLE FUNDING IS MASSIVELY IMPORTANT FOR CVI.

THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE ON THE DAIS, I'VE MADE CVI A PRIORITY IN OUR OFFICE EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE BIT, I KNOW SOME OF THE FOLKS HERE UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT IN 2009, I ACTUALLY LOST A LITTLE BROTHER TO GUN VIOLENCE.

AND I GREW UP IN EAST AUSTIN BEFORE IT WAS A TRENDY PLACE TO LIVE.

AND I COULD TELL YOU THAT I COULD, I COULD WHEN, WHEN MR. FRANZ MENTIONED ABOUT KNOWING THE CALIBER OF A FIREARM, I COULD CAN TELL YOU WHAT THE CALIBER OF FIREARM.

FIREARM IS, AND I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH.

CVI IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ECOSYSTEM.

AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AND I APOLOGIZE.

VICE CHAIR LANE, DID YOU HAVE A DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR THEM? WELL, YOU NEVER HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO ME, BUT THANK YOU.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR AGENDA GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE BACKUP TO READ THE FIVE YEARS OF DATA THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO BE COLLECTED FROM THIS PROGRAM. SEEING. I HAVE SEEN SINCE JOINING THIS, THIS COMMITTEE, THE VALUE TO WHICH CHIEF DAVIS LOOKS AT INNOVATION AND THINGS LIKE PLACE NETWORK INVESTIGATIONS AND WORKING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST AS WHAT IS STRICTLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SOME MIGHT STRICTLY SAY IS

[01:15:04]

POLICING, BUT ALSO THE WAY THAT WE CONNECT ACROSS DEPARTMENTS TO GET THINGS DONE.

AND. SEAN, I'VE BEEN RUNNING INTO YOU, I THINK, LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE.

AND THE AMOUNT OF PASSION THAT I CAN SEE EVERY STEP DOWN THIS TABLE, I DON'T KNOW IS ONE IMPORTANT TO, WE'VE BUILT UP THIS DATA AND WE'VE BUILT UP THIS TRAINING. AND WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE WHO SUPPORTS THIS APPROACH AND THE PASSION AND TRAINING IN PLACE.

AND SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS HAS BEEN TO YOU.

COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ CHAIR.

AS IT ALSO IS TO ME, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND I'M SURE TO THE REST OF US HERE AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO SAY WHAT CAN'T BE DONE TO ENFORCE AGAINST THINGS.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW. LIKE YOU SAID, REDIRECTING THE ENERGY.

WHERE CAN YOU GO? WHAT CAN WE DO AND HOW DO WE GET THERE? AND SO TO SEE A TEAM LIKE THIS WORKING INSIDE OUR CITY, AND TO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE DATA AND THE AND THE REAL LIFE IMPACT ON THE GROUND AND IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR BUILDING THAT UP.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUCHIN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU.

CHAIR. AND AND THANK YOU IN PARTICULAR FOR ALL THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE HELPING ME UNDERSTAND THE, THE WORK AND WHAT YOU ALL ARE DOING OUT THERE. MY QUESTION WAS FOR ANYBODY THAT'S JUST VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE SPACE, WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE THE OTHER CITIES, COUNTIES, PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, PARTS OF THE WORLD THAT LEAD IN THIS SPACE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE BECOME A LEADER OURSELVES, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW WHERE ELSE IS THIS EMPLOYED IN TEXAS OR IN OTHER PLACES THAT WE CAN LOOK TO FOR INNOVATION, FOR RESULTS, FOR THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING HERE? SAN ANTONIO HAS A COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.

SO DOES HOUSTON. DALLAS HAS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.

IN PARTICULAR, I WILL SAY OAKLAND HAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM. AND A REALLY GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS WORK IS ALSO FOUND IN IN BALTIMORE AND IT'S ALL OVER THE NATION AND IT'S KIND OF ALL OVER.

BUT THOSE ARE SOME PLACES THAT YOU CAN LOOK.

THANK YOU. AND THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS YOU GUYS HAD MENTIONED IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED OBVIOUSLY PERSONNEL, BUDGET RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEN THE QUESTIONS YOU WERE ASKING WHERE THE HOT SPOTS, WHAT CAN WE DO? REDIRECTING ENERGY TO MORE RESOURCES.

AND ON THE ONE SIDE, YOU HAD OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE.

I FIGURE WE'VE GOT OUR CHIEF RIGHT HERE.

WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT THE POLICE CAN WORK WITH Y'ALL IN TERMS OF COLLABORATION OR OTHER WAYS THAT CAN SUPPORT THE WORK YOU GUYS ARE DOING? I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR EXPERIENCE TO SAY THAT APD IN REGARDS TO WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN QUITE OVERWHELMING WHERE SOMEONE WAS KILLED, THEY WERE PRESENT TO SECURE THE SCENE.

ALSO, MY CLOSING REMARK WOULD BE THEY HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD AT IDENTIFYING WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF VIOLENCE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AND ALLOWING US THE SPACE TO GO IN THERE BEFORE THEY HAD TO SHOW UP.

YEAH, I WOULD LOVE TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK AND JUST ABSOLUTELY, I THINK WITH OUR PLACE NETWORK INVESTIGATION STRATEGY, I THINK WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING THAT OVER AT THE TABLE. AND SO PART OF IT IS IDENTIFYING THAT CRIMINOGENIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALLOWED VIOLENCE TO PERSIST IN THESE SAME LOCATIONS AND JUST REALLY DEVASTATE THESE COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS.

AND WE CAN BLOCK THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WITH POLICING RESOURCES, WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, BUT WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY'S ENGAGEMENT AND THEIR VOICE AT THE TABLE, IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO TAKE THAT SPACE AND REACTIVATE IT IN A WAY THAT SERVES COMMUNITY NEEDS.

AND SO I THINK THAT THIS TYPE OF WORK IS CRITICAL FOR OPENING UP THOSE CHANNELS AND HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT AT THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE'RE WORKING TO BRING SOMETHING CALLED THE CARDIFF MODEL.

IT COMES OUT OF CARDIFF, WALES, AND IT'S A DATA STRATEGY LOOKING AT LEVEL ONE TRAUMA HOSPITAL DATA, OVERLAYING IT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE VIOLENT TRENDS AND ALSO USING THAT DATA.

GEOSPATIALLY LOCATE THE DATA AS PART OF CARDIFF.

[01:20:02]

THERE IS THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC SAFETY BOARD, IF YOU WILL, WITH THE HOSPITAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, APD AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ATCS AND OTHERS WILL COME TOGETHER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND USE THAT COMMON UNDERSTANDING AROUND DATA TO DRIVE INTERVENTIONS. SO IT'S KIND OF REALLY DESIGNED TO USE THAT DATA TO HAVE MORE CLOSER TO REAL TIME RESPONSES AS A COLLECTIVE.

WHAT'S KNOWN ABOUT CARDIFF IS THAT ABOUT 50 TO 80 TO 90% OF THE DATA OF OF VIOLENCE IS NOT KNOWN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE HOSPITALS HAVE THAT DATA AND PUTTING THAT INTELLIGENCE TOGETHER AND PULLING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE THOSE RESOURCES IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVING GREATER CRIME REDUCTIONS.

AND I WOULD JUST CONFIR DATA, DATA, DATA DATA DATA.

RIGHT? THE MORE DATA WE GET, THE FASTER WE CAN GET IT.

AND THE MORE ROBUST IT IS, THE THE LESS LAG WE HAVE IN RESPONSE.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WE WERE GOING OFF OF 2018 MODELS IN 2023.

WHERE ARE THE HOT SPOTS WERE. AND WE WOULD REPORT BACK TO OVP.

THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE MOVING AND WE NEED TO MOVE WITH THEM. AND SO HOMICIDES IS AGAIN, A LAGGING STATISTIC.

YOU START TABULATING ALL THAT.

THAT'S AT THE END OF THE YEAR, RIGHT? AND YOU GET THOSE DATA.

THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN THAT LAST SIX MONTHS THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING. WE SAW AN INCREASE OF GUN SHOOTINGS ONE ONE TIME AT TAFT LANE, RIGHT OUT OF NOWHERE. AND NO ONE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

BUT WE ASKED OUR PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO IT AND OUR PEOPLE GO, OH, YEAH, I KNOW WHO IT IS. IT'S THIS, THIS, THIS AND THIS, AND IT'S A PERSON CREATING ALL OF THIS DRAMA, RIGHT? BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL THE SHOOTING STARTS, UNTIL THE HOMICIDE STARTS.

BUT WHAT WE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SEEN WAS AN UPTICK IN DRUG SALES, AN UPTICK IN NARCOTIC ARRESTS, OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN US AN INDICATION SOMETHING'S DIFFERENT ON THAT STREET THAT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THAT.

SO ANY TYPE OF DATA AS ROBUST AS IT CAN BE.

I'M NOT SURE THE MODEL THAT MICHELLE'S REFERRING TO, I JUST, I JUST TRY TO STOP SHOOTINGS.

BUT YEAH, DATA 100% DATA.

I CAN SAY TO YOU THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A POINT.

THIS RELATIONSHIP NEEDS TO BE WHERE IT IS WE ARE MEETING.

I KNOW YOU MEET WITH, WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, BUT YOU NEED TO BE MEETING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHERE A HOMICIDE IS GOING TO BE OCCURRING. I CAN LOOK AT THE DATA THAT WE HAVE AND JUST PREDICTIVE ON OUR END.

AND IF WE'RE SITTING AT THE SAME TABLE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT CAN GET DONE THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY GETTING DONE.

AND THE END RESULT OF THAT COMMUNICATION WOULD BE A YOUNG MAN OR A YOUNG WOMAN.

THAT ONE DOESN'T TAKE A LIFE OR DOESN'T LOSE THEIR LIFE BECAUSE WE KNOW SOMETHING'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN AND ONLY CVI CAN INTERVENE IN THAT MANNER.

SO THAT'S I LOVE THAT, CHIEF. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE ANSWERS.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR BETWEEN DATA, BETWEEN THE. CONTINUE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH APD AND OTHERS TO TO WORK.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE BEEN DOING.

THAT'S ALL I GOT. CHAIR THANK YOU COLLEAGUES.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.

APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANK YOU.

[4. Briefing by Austin Police, Austin Fire, and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services on personnel overtime costs, current overtime expenditure estimates through the end of the current Fiscal Year, and strategies to reduce overtime costs before adoption of the City's Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget. [Lisa Davis, Chief of Police - Austin Police; Joel G. Baker, Fire Chief - Austin Fire; Robert Luckritz - Chief of Austin- Travis County Emergency Medical Services - ATCEMS]]

THE COMMITTEE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER FOUR BRIEFING BY AUSTIN POLICE, AUSTIN FIRE AND AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS MEDICAL SERVICE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ON PERSONNEL, OVERTIME COST, CURRENT OVERTIME EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE OVERTIME COSTS BEFORE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2627 BUDGET.

WELCOME.

OKAY. GET MY READERS ON HERE.

ALL RIGHT. HERE'S OUR. YEAR TO DATE, WE HAVE TO THE FAR RIGHT.

THAT IS OUR OVERTIME BUDGET.

THAT'S OUR YEAR TO DATE.

WE'VE AT 28 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURES.

AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM THERE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MONTHLY BREAKDOWN OF OUR USE OF FORCE. I'M SORRY, USE OF FORCE.

MY GOODNESS, WHERE AM I COMING FROM? OVER TIME. WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB.

AS YOU CAN TELL FROM BEGINNING.

[01:25:01]

I GOT HERE IN 2025. WE'RE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY 16% IN OUR USE OF OVERTIME AND THEN ESTIMATED FOR THIS YEAR ENDING UNDER 12% AND THE GRAPH TO YOUR TO MY LEFT IS SHOWING THAT THAT USE OF THAT OVER TIME.