A coalition of Austin community organizations has beckoned the Justice Department to step in and scrutinize the Austin Police Department (APD), presenting allegations of "a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct" and claims of consistent constitutional rights violations. The collective, which includes the Austin Area Urban League, Austin Community Law Center, and the Austin NAACP, among others, has thrown a spotlight on incidents they describe as racially biased policing, specifically during the May 2020 protests, as reported by KVUE.
The groups now urge the DOJ to conduct a pattern-or-practice investigation, amidst revelations brought about by prosecutors dropping the majority of cases against officers involved. The plea for a federal probe follows a push by Austin's Mayor, the Interim City Manager, and Travis County District Attorney José Garza. They seek answers not only into how the 2020 protests were handled but also a broader review of the department's practices over time, as per information obtained by the Austin American Statesman.
Community dissatisfaction has simmered on the back of APD's past contentious encounters, such as the violent 2015 arrest of teacher Breaion King and the more recent case involving the shooting death of Michael Ramos. The letter to the DOJ highlights these and other incidents purveying a "toxic culture" within APD. The review calls for new scrutiny some 15 years after the last DOJ investigation, which concluded back in 2011 with no findings of federal or constitutional violations.
Amid this tense backdrop, local lawmakers including Congressman Greg Casar have echoed calls for an investigation, with particular concern for the "excessive and lethal use of force," and its prevalence against communities of color. City officials, while acknowledging policy changes enacted since the 2020 incidents, according to KVUE.
