Mold inside an air-conditioning unit at Austin Police Department headquarters has triggered a quick game of musical chairs for staff, with the city temporarily clearing employees out of the potentially affected area while experts figure out how bad the problem is.
City officials said Wednesday that workers who normally operate in the impacted portion of the main APD building have been reassigned to alternate worksites. No employees are currently occupying the spaces identified as possibly affected, and facilities staff are monitoring the situation while they line up professional remediation to make the building safe again.
According to CBS Austin, the city’s Facilities Management department confirmed the mold discovery and the decision to move employees out. "The safety of City of Austin employees and the public is our highest priority," Darrell Alexander, building services director, said in the city's announcement. Officials said they will share more information as it becomes available.
What officials say they'll do next
Austin Facilities Management oversees hazardous materials mitigation, including asbestos, lead and mold, across more than 175 city buildings. The department said it will work with remediation contractors and follow public health guidance to assess and clean the affected air-conditioning unit. City leaders have not provided a timeline yet for testing or for when staff might be allowed to move back in.
Local context and why residents should care
Mold in public buildings is more than just an eyesore. It can cause respiratory and allergy issues for employees and can complicate evidence handling and day-to-day operations if it spreads or goes untreated. In 2017 more than 800 untested sexual assault evidence samples were found with mold in APD storage, which triggered a lengthy review of how evidence was handled, as reported by Community Impact. City officials say the current response is precautionary while experts determine how far the contamination reaches.
What to watch for
The city says it will keep the public updated as testing and cleanup move forward and that employees will return only after the affected spaces are cleared and deemed safe. If the situation grows to affect public access or APD services, the city will announce any changes in operations, according to CBS Austin. For now, Facilities Management is coordinating with remediation professionals and tracking any staff health concerns as they come up.
