COMPARING FORCES
EXITS Thirty-four recruits out of an initial 100 did not graduate for a variety of reasons, APD’s second-highest attrition rate since 2015.
Austin’s police force is much larger, and remains more understa ed, than the most populous cities in neighboring counties.
STAFFING PERCENTAGES
89.33%STAFFED 193 VACANCIES
Austin Police Department
AS OF JAN. 31
GRADUATED DID NOT GRADUATE
98.92%STAFFED 2 VACANCIES 95.58% STAFFED 5 VACANCIES AS OF JAN. 31
Round Rock Police Department
diversity training, more classroom engagement and a civilian presence were added to the eight-month train- ing process while concepts such as the aggression-oriented cadet “Fight Day” were phased out. As part of the city’s shift to rethink aspects of public safety, two commu- nity panels spent months reviewing APD training videos and the academy curriculum from the current cadet class to ag potentially problematic or out-of-date items. Panelists said train- ing videos disproportionately showed Black subjects in negative scenarios and some lesson materials were factu- ally inaccurate. The city also brought on criminal justice researcher Anne Kringen as the revamped academy’s division manager. Kringen and civilian reviewers said timing and coordination issues meant reviews often came too late. “We did have an impact; we continue to have an impact; but it’s low-hanging fruit compared to the issues that we really want to target,” citizen reviewer Angelica Erazo said. Civilian reviewwill continue during the next class with more focus on pri- ority subject areas and culture ques- tions, which Erazo said could include topics such as use of force, resistance and communication. “There’s a willingness to move for- ward. That’s certainly my hope. But the 144th is not radically di erent from other classes,” review panelist Kathy Mitchell said.
San Marcos Police Department
Reasons provided for cadet exits include change of mind, injury and COVID-19.
AS OF FEB. 2
STARTING SALARIES FOR NEW OFFICERS
Personal Injury/Medical issue
Round Rock Police Department
Austin Police Department
San Marcos Police Department
10
SOURCES: AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, ROUND ROCK POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER $62,895 $63,286 $59,472
8
Academic COVID-19 Other Physical*
6
5
3
Cary Roberts, the commission’s exec- utive director, said the new modeling and ongoing cadet classes are neces- sary to address sta ng and response times that regularly top eight minutes. “Inhindsightwe recognize evenmore so than when we rst discussed it with the council that there would be unin- tended consequences of shutting down the academy entirely,” Roberts said. Austin’s 145th cadet class is now ten- tatively set to begin March 28 pending city council approval. A shortened 146th class made of up experienced law enforcement o cers could take place this summer. “It’s not easy with everything going on right now with law enforcement,” 144th graduate Natacha Wells said. “All the cadets that decided to join law enforcement at this time understand the importance of being there for the community regardless.”
“Trying to review the curriculum while it was being taught was impos- sible,” she said. Sta ng for the future With $6.2 million budgeted for more academies this scal year, Chacon is now working to plan what the depart- ment’s sta ng goals should be. He said a “groundbreaking” data model based on the relationship between APD patrols and response times released Jan. 11 provides a basis for some city sta ng and budgeting talks this year.
2 *Physical Training Assessment Standards
Mitchell and Erazo also agreed with a nding by Kroll Associates, the con- sultant brought on by the city to mon- itor the 144th class, that many APD instructors did not buy into or actively resisted some proposed reforms. Kringen agreed but credited APD for exibility that she said is uncommon in police training.
“WE HAVE NEW OFFICERS NOW AS A RESULT OF AUSTIN HALTING THEIR ACADEMY." ALLEN BANKS, ROUND ROCK CHIEF OF POLICE
Funded by the Greater Austin Crime Commission public safety nonprot, the model recommends a more than 14% increase to APD’s typical daily patrol force, from 774 to 884 o cers.
Mitchell said she hopes to see the implementation of new recommenda- tions from Kroll and a more methodi- cal pace for civilian curriculum review for the 145th class this spring.
For more information, visit communityimpact.com .
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CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION • FEBRUARY 2022
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