REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Monday, September 8, 2025, 4:00 PM Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, #1101 301 West 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Public Safety Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely or in person, call or email Christi Vitela, 512-974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Angel Carroll Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 7, 2025. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on August 4, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Introduction and overview of the Forensic Science Department. Presentation by Dr. Dana Kadavy, Director, Forensic Science Department. Discussion of the Office of Police Oversight's compliance with the Austin Police Oversight Act and Resolution 20230921-099. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the review of the Office of Police Oversight’s compliance with the Austin Police Oversight Act. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 7. Update from the Public Safety Commission’s Collective Sex Crimes Response Model Working Group on the progress, risks, and adjustments to reporting schedule of data. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department, at 512-974-2792 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, July 7, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, July 7, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Tim Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Angel Carroll Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network Rubén Rivera Clemente – Harassment APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on May 5, 2025. The minutes were approved at the July 7, 2025, meeting on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on June 2, 2025. The minutes were approved at the July 7, 2025, meeting on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve the Public Safety Commission 2024-2025 Annual Internal Report. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, July 7, 2025 The motion to approve the Public Safety Commission 2024-2025 Annual Internal Report was approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police Department and update on the Automated License Plate Reader Program. Presentation by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department. The presentation was made by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department. 4. 5. Chair Ramírez requested the most recent Berry Dunn Report. Commissioner Bernhardt requested the next quarterly update include attrition rates for each of the academies and progress towards the 30 by 30 goal. Vice Chair Ruttan asked if the increases in Kidnapping/Abduction (100) and Drug/Narcotic Offenses (35A, 35B) and Pornography/Obscene Material (370) could be attributed to changes in enforcement patterns or whether it was a random variation. Discussion of bylaw amendment process, current bylaws, and potential changes. Discussed. Discussion of sexual assault data with Austin Police Department Sex Crimes Unit, Austin- Travis County Sexual Assault Response & Resource Team (SARRT), The …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, August 4, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:12 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Tim Ruttan, Vice Chair Enrique Duran II Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Pierre Nguyễn Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Edward Sledge – General railroad crossing DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department. The presentation was made by Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department. 3. Discussion of the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget and impact on public safety departments. Discussed. 4. Update on the 89th Texas Legislature and impacts on public safety. Presentation by Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Officer, Austin Office of Intergovernmental Relations. The presentation was made by Rick Ramírez, Deputy Intergovernmental Relations Officer, and Christopher Coppola, Division Chief, Law Department. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 5. Training Academy Working Group recommendation to the Public Safety Commission. Discussed. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy. The motion to approve the Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy failed on a Commissioner Smith’s motion, Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo’s second, on a 4-0 vote. Commissioners Duran and Nguyễn abstained. Commissioners Bernhardt, Carroll, Hidrogo, Holmes, and Orr were absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 7, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting on July 7, 2025, failed on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Duran’s second on a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo abstained. Commissioners Bernhardt, Carroll, Hidrogo, Holmes, and Orr were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of Police Academy Office of Police Oversight Office of Violence Prevention Forensic Science Department ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramírez adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. without objection. 2
Austin Forensic Science Dr. Dana Kadavy| Director| Sept 08, 2025 Austin Forensic Science Our Vision • To be a trusted forensic laboratory known for technically defensible, unbiased, and high-quality services to our community Our Mission • To provide accurate and impartial scientific analysis and support services to the criminal justice system while maintaining the highest level of quality and professionalism Austin Forensic Science Core Values • Truth Through Science • Technical and Scientific Excellence • Reliable Quality Service • Unbiased and Accurate Analysis and Reporting • Transparent Procedures and Information Sharing • Honest and Accountable Team Members 3 Austin Forensic Science Organization 4 Austin Forensic Science Core Services 54 Certified & Licensed Experts Crime Scene Firearms & Toolmarks Latent Prints Seized Drugs 24/7 Field Response Evidence Sampling & Collection Latent Print Processing Function Evaluation Physical Comparison Serial Number Restoration Physical Print Comparison Individual characteristic database Identification and confirmation of controlled substances Weight measurement 5 Austin Forensic Science Core Services 54 Certified & Licensed Experts Toxicology DNA & Case Management Evidence Control Quality Assurance Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) DNA Analysis DNA Outsourcing Lifecycle Case Management Discovery Storage & maintenance Chain of custody Transport Disposal Accreditation & Licensing Competency & Proficiency Equipment/Method Validation Corrective/Preventive Actions 6 Austin Forensic Science Quality Assurance • ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to ISO 17025:2017 and Accreditation Requirements 3125 • Texas Forensic Science Commission Accreditation; Title 37, Texas Admin. Code, Chapter 651 • Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) Early Implementer of OSAC Registry Standards • 152 published and 73 proposed Registry Standards • IdeagenTM Quality Management System 7 Austin Forensic Science Performance – 2024 Snapshot • Processed all sexual assault kits received in 2024 with average turn- around-time of 51 days, preventing a backlog for six consecutive years • Investigated 2.2K Major Crime Scenes • Delivered 7.5K forensic reports and processed 25K items of evidence • Disposed of 140K eligible items, including 9.2K seized drugs and 1.3K firearms 8 Questions & Thank you 9
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Recommendation 20250908-006: Date: September 8, 2025 Subject: Review of Office of Police Oversight’s Compliance with APOA and Resolution 99 Motioned by: Seconded by: WHEREAS, The Austin Public Safety Commission serves as an advisory body to the city council on all budgetary and policy matters concerning public safety; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Austin voted for the Austin Police Oversight Act in May of 2023; and WHEREAS, The City Council directed the City Manager to revise all internal policies with respect to the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) in order to comply with the amended City Code Chapter 2-151 and Ordinance No. 20230223-061 via Resolution 99 in September 2023;2 and WHEREAS, § 2-15-3(B)(8) of the Office of Police Oversight Ordinance states the office shall “at least once per year, provide both written and oral reports at an open session of the City Council regarding the results of office activities”;3 and 1 https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2- 15POOV&showChanges=true 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=417032 3 https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2- 15POOV&showChanges=true WHEREAS, as of September 8, 2025 the Office of Police Oversight has only “presented the report to Mayor and Council via memo” with no oral report scheduled regarding the office’s activities;4 and WHEREAS, progress and implementation of the Austin Police Oversight Act and Resolution 99 is inextricably linked to the the Public Safety Commission’s mission; and WHEREAS, the Office of Police Oversight has refused to present and answer questions on the record at a Public Safety Commission meeting and/or provide updates on its compliance moving forward; and WHEREAS, § 2-15-3(B)(12) of the Office of Police Oversight Ordinance states the office shall “act as a central depository for documentation relevant to the mission of the office and make such information available to the public, including but not limited to: complaint outcomes; officer discipline; force incidents; and lawsuits against the City that allege officer misconduct, including the filings and the final settlement amount of any such suits;”;5 and WHEREAS, complaints posted to date to the Office of Police Oversight website are not searchable by keyword, complaint date, or complaint number; and WHEREAS Resolution 99 requires posting of Anonymized demographic information about the complainant, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, if provided, and Sector complaint originated; to its website concerning all complaints;6 and WHEREAS, sector and demographic data are not yet posted and no actionable plan has been put forth by the Office of Police Oversight for mitigating the …
Emergency Medical Services Incident and Response Data FY25 Q3 Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff 1 Incidents, Patient Contacts, Transports January 2021 – July 2025 Incidents | Patient Contacts | Patient Transports January 2021 - July 2025 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 1 2 - n a J 1 2 - r a M 1 2 - y a M 1 2 - l u J 1 2 - p e S 1 2 - v o N 2 2 - n a J 2 2 - r a M 2 2 - y a M 2 2 - l u J 2 2 - p e S 2 2 - v o N 3 2 - n a J 3 2 - r a M 3 2 - y a M 3 2 - l u J 3 2 - p e S 3 2 - v o N 4 2 - n a J 4 2 - r a M 4 2 - y a M 4 2 - l u J 4 2 - p e S 4 2 - v o N 5 2 - n a J 5 2 - r a M 5 2 - y a M 5 2 - l u J Incidents Patient Contacts Patient Transports 2 P1 Compliance by District FY25 Q3 Priority 1 Compliance by District FY25 Q3 72.65% 71.54% 79.07% 75.74% 81.03% 64.60% 64.80% 70.65% 88.86% 53.19% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 % Goal Met 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 3 P1 Response Interval by District FY25 Q3 Priority 1 Response Interval by District FY25 Q3 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 12.22 12.82 11.50 11.83 11.68 11.57 12.97 12.72 8.47 8.62 7.67 8.30 9.03 8.07 8.82 8.53 15.27 10.23 9.88 6.50 7.40% 7.87% 8.08% 6.56% 6.78% 7.44% 7.58% 7.05% 8.96% 6.16% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 90th Percentile (Minutes) Average (Minutes) % of Total for District 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 4 Priority Percentage By District FY25 Q3 Priority Percentage by District FY25 Q3 11.33% 10.97% 11.62% 11.05% 10.99% 10.13% 11.80% 11.65% 10.29% 10.81% 30.40% 32.82% 29.72% 30.35% 31.13% 11.55% 11.96% 13.21% 14.40% 12.93% 29.17% 12.63% 30.52% 32.41% 32.29% 34.51% 13.58% 11.80% 13.11% 10.48% 39.32% 36.37% 37.37% 37.63% 38.16% …
Emergency Medical Services Public Safety Commission Meeting FY25 Q3 Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff 1 Current EMS Department Staffing Authorized Strength Filled Sworn Sworn Vacancies 714 609 105 Medic Openings 27 Field 1 Communications June 30, 2025 Rank EMS Assistant Chief EMS Captain - Communications EMS Captain - Field EMS Clinical Spec - Comm EMS Clinical Spec - Field EMS Commander - Communications EMS Commander - Field EMS Division Chief EMS Medic - Communications EMS Medic - Field EMS Chief Paramedic Practitioner EMS Paramedic Practitioner TOTAL Q3 AVERAGE Authorized Sworn Staffing 4 11 83 35 302 5 40 10 8 211 1 4 714 Vacancies Vacancy Rate 0 2 2 10 62 0 1 0 1 27 0 0 105 0.00 18.18 2.41 28.57 20.53 0.00 2.50 0.00 12.50 12.80 0.00 0.00 14.71 13.82 2 Sworn Separations Sworn Separations by Type 17 9 8 4 1 2 1 3 2 EMS Assistant Chief EMS Captain - Comm EMS Captain - Field EMS Clinical Spec - Comm EMS Clinical Spec - Field EMS Commander - Comm EMS Commander - Field EMS Division Chief EMS Medic - Comm EMS Medic - Field Resigned Retired 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 3 Sworn Tenure at Separation Sworn Tenure at Separation 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 4 d e r i t e R 1 d e n g i s e R 2 d e r i t e R 1 d e n g i s e R 5 3 1 d e n g i s e R 4 4 3 1 1 d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R 8 7 2 d e n g i s e R d e r i t e R EMS Assistant Chief EMS Captain - Comm EMS Captain - Field EMS Clinical Spec …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Recommendation 20250908-006: Date: September 8, 2025 Subject: Review of Office of Police Oversight’s Compliance with APOA and Resolution 99 Motioned by: Commissioner Bernhardt Seconded by: Commissioner Carroll WHEREAS, The Austin Public Safety Commission serves as an advisory body to the city council on all budgetary and policy matters concerning public safety; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Austin voted for the Austin Police Oversight Act in May of 2023; and WHEREAS, The City Council directed the City Manager to revise all internal policies with respect to the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) in order to comply with the amended City Code Chapter 2-15 1 and Ordinance No. 20230223-061 via Resolution 99 in September 2023;2 and WHEREAS, § 2-15-3(B)(8) of the Office of Police Oversight Ordinance states the office shall “at least once per year, provide both written and oral reports at an open session of the City Council regarding the results of office activities”;3 and 1 https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2- 15POOV&showChanges=true 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=417032 3 https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2AD_CH2- 15POOV&showChanges=true WHEREAS, as of September 8, 2025 the Office of Police Oversight has only “presented the report to Mayor and Council via memo” with no oral report scheduled regarding the office’s activities; 4 and WHEREAS, progress and implementation of the Austin Police Oversight Act and Resolution 99 is inextricably linked to the the Public Safety Commission’s mission; and WHEREAS, the Office of Police Oversight has refused to present and answer questions on the record at a Public Safety Commission meeting and/or provide updates on its compliance moving forward; and WHEREAS, § 2-15-3(B)(12) of the Office of Police Oversight Ordinance states the office shall “act as a central depository for documentation relevant to the mission of the office and make such information available to the public, including but not limited to: complaint outcomes; officer discipline; force incidents; and lawsuits against the City that allege officer misconduct, including the filings and the final settlement amount of any such suits;”; 5 and WHEREAS, complaints posted to date to the Office of Police Oversight website are not searchable by keyword, complaint date, or complaint number; and WHEREAS Resolution 99 requires posting of Anonymized demographic information about the complainant, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, if provided, and Sector complaint originated; to its website concerning all complaints; 6 and WHEREAS, sector and demographic data are not yet posted and no actionable plan has been put forth by …
