In pursuit of accountability and reform, the Travis County District Attorney's Office and the City of Austin have knocked on the DOJ's door, inviting a scrutinous eye on the Austin Police Department's 2020 protest response. The agencies on Monday issued an unwavering call for a thorough review by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division.
The request comes on the heels of a decision to drop 17 felony indictments against officers stemming from the protests. Four APD officers, meanwhile, will continue to face prosecution. "This has been a difficult chapter for Austin. I look forward to turning the page. These announcements will allow police officers, whose lives were upended by the indictments, to return to their services to our community," Mayor Kirk Watson stated.
During the May 2020 demonstrations, APD's use of "less lethal" bean bag rounds raised alarms after multiple protesters sustained injuries. Subsequently, a grand jury responded with over 20 felony indictments against the officers involved. "We will also continue to hold law enforcement who break the law accountable," Travis County District Attorney José Garza said in a statement.
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza underscored the city's openness to the DOJ's probe, pointing out the policy changes the APD has adopted post-2020 upheavals. These reforms include axing the problematic bean bag munitions and doubling down on de-escalation training with the apparent goal of more effectively serving and protecting.
Echoing the sentiments of local leadership, interim APD Chief Robin Henderson has reaffirmed the department's commitment to fostering trust with the Austin community. With attention to training enhancements and community engagement, the department aims to demonstrate its readiness to operate under the new guidelines while awaiting the DOJ's critical assessment.
For more detailed information on this developing story, the official release provides a comprehensive overview of the actions taken by the Austin leadership in response to the highly scrutinized events of 2020.
