Art Acevedo, former Houston Police Chief, has reversed course on his decision to take a high-profile job in Austin, citing the role had become a "distraction." Acevedo, 59, was set to become the interim assistant city manager in Austin but pulled out just a week after he was offered the position. According to a statement released on X, the ex-chief believes politics got in the way of meaningful change for Austin, “Unfortunately, politics and power struggles have hindered our efforts to create real positive improvements for the people of this city,” the Houston Chronicle reported.
His tenure in Houston, where he served from 2016 to 2020, was marked by a series of contentious events including an escalation in crime rates, a deadly drug raid that resulted in civilian fatalities, and conflicts with police officers and advocacy groups calling for reform. These past controversies resurfaced among Texans and added fuel to the fire amid his proposed appointment to oversee the Austin Police Department. In his X post, Acevedo also expressed his ongoing support for Austin's officers and stated he would look for other opportunities, "I firmly believe that, if we are to build a future together, we cannot afford to blame others or point fingers," Acevedo said.
Following the announcement of his intended role last Friday, his potential oversight of the Austin Police became a contentious topic among local officials and social justice advocates. Acevedo informed them of his change of heart in a statement on the social platform, emphasizing the divisive nature of the post, "While I continue to admire and support these leaders of the Austin community, it is clear that this newly created position has become a distraction from the critical work ahead for our city,” Houston Public Media reported.
Before his brief consideration for the Austin job, Acevedo held positions in police leadership in Miami and Colorado, and he took the helm of the Austin Police Department in 2007. His decision to steer clear of the assistant city manager role leaves Austin city leadership in search of another candidate to fill this contentious position amidst ongoing political and social turbulence.
