Item 2 - REVISED - CPRC Minutes (03/20/2026) - Approval Pending — original pdf

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Community Police Review Commission – Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20, 2026 COMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW COMMISSION (CPRC) REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026 The Community Police Review Commission convened for a regular-called meeting on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions (1101), located at 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Carlos Greaves, Chair, called the Community Police Review Commission meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Carlos Greaves, Chair Laura Cortes Franco, Vice Chair Terry Flood Christopher Harris Marissa Johnson Lauren Peña Kathy Russell (arrived online at 3:08 PM) Commissioners Absent: Ruben De La Paz Darrick Eugene Lee Peterman Celesta Williams (arrived online at 4:47 PM and departed at 5:03 PM) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Jacqueline Harrington spoke regarding concerns about an Austin Police Department investigation involving her home and an elderly individual, Don Grant. She alleged that the investigation, led by Officer Smith, relied on invalid property records and failed to verify key details, resulting in criminal charges against both herself and Mr. Grant. She stated that Mr. Grant’s charges have since been dismissed, while her case remains pending. Ms. Harrington also expressed concerns about previously filed reports being closed without investigation and requested further review of the matter. Peter Hunt provided comments on recent updates to the Austin Police Department General Orders, particularly regarding coordination with federal immigration authorities. He noted support for certain changes, including clearer language on administrative warrants and documentation requirements. However, he raised concerns about the order in which officers may contact federal authorities prior to supervisory review, stating this could impact community trust. He also suggested clarifying language related to “arrestable offenses” to better align with local policy. 1 Community Police Review Commission – Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20, 2026 Theresa Hayes spoke about multiple arrests she described as unjustified and raised concerns about her interactions with law enforcement when attempting to file reports. She referenced ongoing legal matters, including a federal lawsuit, and alleged misconduct involving various agencies. She also discussed personal impacts related to these incidents and expressed concerns about barriers to filing reports and receiving assistance. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the minutes of the Community Police Review Commission regular-called meeting of February 27, 2026. The Commission considered approval of the February 27, 2026, meeting minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Terry Flood and seconded by Chair Carlos Greaves. The motion received a 5-0 vote in favor, with Commissioners Christopher Harris and Lauren Peña abstaining, as they had not yet reviewed the minutes. Chair Carlos Greaves postponed final approval of the February 27, 2026, meeting minutes to the April meeting to allow the abstaining Commissioners an opportunity to review the minutes. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing regarding progress of work with the Police Technology Unit on an internal drive for the CPRC to access case files. Austin Police Oversight reported that there were no new updates. 3. Staff briefing regarding updates related to Austin Police Oversight, including an overview and key highlights; administrative and operational updates; commission support and follow-up; community engagement Gail McCant, Austin Police Oversight Director, provided brief operational updates, including ongoing work on the annual report, budget discussions, onboarding and training of new Commissioners, and recruitment for vacant positions. Staff also outlined changes to APD case classifications, noting that Class C and D cases will now be categorized as “I” (information) when no policy violation is found, with no impact to Commission access or communication. Additional updates included progress on the shared case folder, community engagement efforts, website improvements, and policy review activities. One complaint case was sustained, with training recommended. Commissioners asked questions regarding event notifications, legal support, budget involvement, and classification changes. Staff confirmed efforts to improve communication and reiterated that oversight processes remain unchanged. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2 Community Police Review Commission – Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20, 2026 4. Discussion of how the Community Police Review Commission could participate in public outreach events conducted by Austin Police Oversight (APO). The Commission discussed opportunities to collaborate with Austin Police Oversight (APO) on public outreach and community engagement efforts. Public Information & Marketing Program Manager Sara Peralta outlined APO’s approach to planning and conducting outreach events, including equity considerations, community input, and post-event evaluation. Commissioners expressed interest in participating in and supporting outreach activities, including engagement with specific communities and participation in existing events. Staff clarified that Commissioners may participate individually or in small groups with coordination from APO staff, and discussed general planning timelines, logistics, and evaluation methods for outreach efforts. 5. Discussion of a recommendation to the Austin Police Department (APD) to create a public dashboard of all APD interactions with federal immigration authorities for public transparency. The commission discussed a proposal to recommend that Austin Police (AP) create a public dashboard showing all interactions with federal immigration authorities. Supporters noted that AP already collects and periodically reports this data, so the main change would be presenting it in a more accessible, transparent dashboard format to help the public understand trends and improve accountability and trust. Concerns were raised about potential misuse or politicization of the data, risks to officer or community safety, and the possibility of targeting specific neighborhoods, with members suggesting the information should remain citywide rather than broken down by sector. Commissioners also discussed legal constraints under Texas public information laws and what data can be publicly released, emphasizing the need for compliance while maximizing transparency. Alternatives were considered, including routing data through oversight bodies or continuing AP reporting without building a new system, but some commissioners felt a dashboard was the most straightforward option since the data already exists. The item concluded with agreement to draft a formal recommendation for future discussion and a vote, with volunteers offering to collaborate on drafting. 6. Discussion of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements for CPRC commissioners and use of a shared drive for case review. The commission discussed Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) requirements for CPRC commissioners and the current use of a shared drive to access case files for review. Laura Cortes Franco, Vice Chair explained that because not all commissioners are CJIS- certified, access to sensitive case materials is currently handled through a restricted and somewhat inefficient “workaround” system, including redaction steps and controlled file uploads. This has led to large volumes of documents and videos being stored in a shared drive, creating delays and making case review more time-consuming. She also emphasized that CJIS certification and related annual training (including cybersecurity requirements) are mandatory and must be completed regularly. Carlos Greaves, Chair, encouraged others to complete or repeat the training promptly, noting it is a low barrier and necessary for full access to case materials. There was also discussion about whether non-compliant members should be excluded from working groups that 3 Community Police Review Commission – Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20, 2026 require file access, to improve workflow efficiency. The item concluded with a general reminder to complete required training and maintain compliance so the review process can function more smoothly. 7. Discussion of CPRC Workflow and any potential changes to the process. The commission discussed the CPRC case review workflow, including challenges with participation, case volume, and delays in completing recommendations. Members reviewed the working group structure (A, B, and C), which was designed to distribute workload and support case analysis, but noted ongoing inefficiencies in practice. Suggestions included adjusting working group assignments, improving consistency in participation, and exploring whether more flexibility or restructuring is needed. No formal changes were made, but members agreed to continue evaluating the workflow to improve efficiency while maintaining thorough review. 8. Discussion of Commissioner Review Working Groups A, B, and C’s progress, experience, & recommendation templates. Working groups A, B, and C provided updates on their case review progress, noting varying levels of completion and different approaches to meetings and analysis. Some groups reported steady progress, while others are still addressing onboarding and access issues. Members discussed improving coordination, accountability, and consistency across groups. The commission agreed that the system is still developing and will continue to be refined as experience grows and training improves. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Drafting a resolution to improve how commissioners develop, share, and advance agenda items and recommendations to City Council • Developing a dashboard proposal • Reviewing the standard for use-of-force burden of proof • Codifying communication processes with APO Public Information & Marketing Program Manager Sara Peralta • Receive updates on public complaints raised during public communication and tracking related cases • Receive a list of any officers on the Brady list and compare it to any open cases the commission has. 4 Community Police Review Commission – Meeting Minutes Friday, March 20, 2026 ADJOURNMENT Chair Carlos Greaves motioned to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Christopher Harris. The meeting concluded at 5:30 p.m. with no objections. Commissioners Ruben De La Paz, Darrick Eugene, Lee Peterman, and Celesta Williams were absent. 5