Art Acevedo is once again patrolling the corridors of power in Austin, Texas – this time in a newly minted role designed to oversee the city's police department, according to city officials. Acevedo, the former police chief of Austin, as well as Houston and Miami, has been tapped for an interim assistant city manager position at a $271,000 salary, without the need for city council approval or public input. In his new capacity, Acevedo is responsible for supervising the Austin Police Department (APD) and bridging communication between the department and the city manager's office, as KXAN reported.
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza confirmed the creation of the role and appointment of Acevedo. Describing the position as a temporary setup because "the next city manager may want to hire their own executive team," Garza said. Despite his storied past as a figurehead in law enforcement, Acevedo will not be donning a badge nor pursuing his previous post as chief of police, he said. It was emphasized by Garza, that Acevedo's experience in Austin is a valuable asset – he understands the community and brings a wealth of knowledge regarding APD's present challenges. These challenges include staffing issues and the need for continued reform, a consequence of widespread community demands following the protests in May 2020, according to KVUE.
The introduction of Acevedo into this strategic oversight role happens against the backdrop of his brief stint as the interim chief for the Aurora Police Department in Colorado. His last day with Aurora PD is slated for Jan. 22, with Acevedo citing the move back to Texas as a chance to be closer to family.
Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his approval for Acevedo's hiring, stating it would "strengthen the relationship" between City Hall, APD, and the community. "Art Acevedo brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges facing APD. I’m hopeful he’ll be able to provide, needed support for the department and help us to strengthen the relationship between City Hall and APD as well as with the community," Watson said, as obtained by KXAN.
Expected to usher in a fresh dynamic to the management of public safety in Austin, Acevedo's legacy is not without contention. Having previously led the APD from 2007 to 2016, he was seen both as a celebrity figure in law enforcement and a polarizing one, often criticized for his high-profile persona and the department's handling of contentious incidents. Yet, the city's leadership is banking on his experience to navigate the APD through a time of transition and build back stronger ties with the community it serves.
