REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, MAY 4, 2026, 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, contact Chelsea Pfeifer at chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2498. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Enrique Duran II, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Daniel Godwin David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Vice Chair Denise L Eger Kimberly Hidrogo Timothy Ruttan Yasmine Smith The first 5 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. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on April 6, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Austin Fire Quarterly Report. Presentation by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. Discussion of Austin Firefighters Association budget and sworn staff priorities. Presented by David Girouard, President, Austin Firefighters Association. Discussion of Austin Police Oversight Mediation Program and responses to questions from Recommendation 20250908-006. Presented by Gail McCant, Director, Austin Police Oversight. Discussion of sexual assault data with Austin Police, SAFE Alliance, BRAVE Alliance, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT). Presented by Deanna Lichter, Commander, Austin Police, Marcy Alonzo, Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Police, Andrea Austin, Director, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Alison Kolb, Vice President, SAFE Alliance, Noor Wehbe, Nurse Educator, BRAVE Alliance. Wildfire Readiness Update. Presentation by David Skowron, Division Chief, Austin Fire. 6. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 7. Approve a recommendation from the Collective Sex Crime Response Model working group regarding SARRT. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 6, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on March 2, 2026. The March 2, 2026 meeting minutes were approved as amended with the following amendment on Commissioner Duran’s motion, Vice Chair Ruttan’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Smith was off the dais. Commissioners Holmes and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. The amendment was under FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: “Austin Police Oversight discussion on Mediation Remediation program” DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discussion of small vehicle use by public safety departments with Rick Harland, Assistant Director, Austin Fleet Mobility Services. Presentation was made by Rick Harland, Assistant Director, Austin Fleet Mobility Services, Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical 1 Services, Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire, Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. 2. 4. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police. Presentation by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. Presentation was made by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. Discussion of Austin Police operating procedures for disclosure of bodycam footage to Travis County post arrest with Austin Police, Travis County Attorney’s Office and Travis County Defender's Office. Presentation by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police, Lucio del Toro, First Assistant County Attorney, Travis County Attorney’s Office, Adeola Ogunkeyede, Chief Public Defender for Travis County, Travis County Defender’s Office. Presentation was made by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police, Lucio del Toro, First Assistant County Attorney, Travis County Attorney’s Office, Adeola Ogunkeyede, Chief Public Defender for Travis County, Travis County Defender’s Office. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 5. Update from the Collective Sex Crime Response Model working group. Update was given by Chair Ramírez. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Duran was elected as Chair on Commissioner Ruttan’s motion, Chair Ramírez’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Holmes and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. Commissioner Ramírez was elected as Vice Chair on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Godwin’s second on …
Mediation Program Public Safety Commission May 4, 2026 1 Agenda 01 About Austin Police Oversight 02 Authority 03 About Mediation 04 Process 05 Benefits 2 1. About Austin Police Oversight 3 About Austin Police Oversight The mission of Austin Police Oversight is to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department’s conduct, practices, and policies to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency and create sustainable partnerships throughout the community. ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY PARTNERSHIPS 4 About Austin Police Oversight WHAT WE DO WHAT WE DO NOT DO Separate, independent, civilian oversight Review all community complaints We have full access to all APD databases Make recommendations to the Chief of Police & City Manager related to discipline, administrative policies and training Educate community members about the complaint process, our reports and recommendations, and their rights when interacting with law enforcement We do NOT work for or report to APD orthe Chief of Police We do NOT oversee other law enforcement agencies We do NOT oversee criminal cases We do NOT administer discipline to officers We are NOT the final decision-makers on issues related to discipline and training 5 2. Authority 6 Authority: Meet and Confer Agreement Mediation authorization is established in the 2024 Meet and Confer Agreement between City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA) in Article 17, Disciplinary Actions, Demotion, & Appeals. Section 16—The CITY shall implement a voluntary mediation process concerning both citizen and internal complaints. The ASSOCIATION may appoint two persons to work with the CITY in developing the specific operating procedure. The process shall include and be based upon the following concepts: a) Mediation shall be an option offered to the complainant at any time during the investigatory process in which the Chief deems appropriate. Mediation shall only be offered in cases in which allegations are for minor policy violations, such as rudeness. The Chief or their designee shall have final authority as to whether mediation is an appropriate avenue for remedy. b) For a complaint to proceed to mediation, both the Officer and the complainant must voluntarily agree. c) Once mediation has been agreed to, the matter cannot be returned to the Department to be handled as a disciplinary matter. 7 Authority: General Orders Mediation authorization is also established in the Austin Police Department (APD) General Orders: 902.6.5 Investigations Handled Through Mediation As an alternative to the normal IA …
Briefing: Public Safety Commission Recommendation 20250908-006 Austin Police Oversight | 05.04.2026 Overview Purpose: Provide the Public Safety Commission with a summary of APO’s responses to recommendation 20250908-006 Scope: Annual Reporting, Compliance, public data accessibility, Complaints process & outcomes, CPRC, Miscellaneous Annual Reporting PSC Request: Present the most recent Annual Report at a publicly posted Council Meeting. APO Response: • 2024 Report presented via memo on October 13, 2025, to Mayor and Council • 2024 Report published October 14, 2025 • Council presentation on December 9, 2025 Compliance APOA Austin Police Oversight Act PSC Recommendation: Published compliance Plan. APO Response: • APO already complies with the Act; a separate plan is not required. Complaint Database PSC Recommendation: Create a Searchable, Public Complaint Database APO Response: • Complaint documentation is already searchable online • The interface was challenging • March 19, 2026, COA new website launched CPRC Support/ Staff Liaison PSC Recommendation: Assign City Clerk Staff as CPRC liaison. APO Response: • APO has not articulated any strain on staff resources. • Will collaborate with CMO and City Clerk’s Office to address any challenges. Annual Report Timeline PSC Questions: Annual Report Schedule, Edit and Review Authority. APO Response: • All department annual reports will be released after the City Manager’s Year in Review. • APO aim is Q4 each Year • Austin Communication and Engagement and the City Manager’s Office have review, edit, and approval authority of APO’s Annual Report. Compliance PSC Questions: Posting requirement, Reporting Gaps, Data Infrastructure APO Response: • All Complaints submitted to APO in 2025 are published on APO’s website. Anonymous Complaints are not separated out. • APO does not publish Compliments • Oral & Written reprimands are reported in aggregate numbers and published as part of our annual report. • Compliant Process & Outcomes PSC Questions: Training & Case Management APO Response: • Complaint Staff receive ongoing training • Options for filing • Supervisor Referral outcomes • Complaint trends Community Police Review Commission PSC Questions: Case review, vacancies, case briefings & recommendations, APO Response: • Working groups for case triage established • Vacancies filled by alternates • Case briefings will take place in closed session • Document storage on CPRC website Miscellaneous PSC Questions: Press Conf. Funding, Website accessibility, Hiring APO Response: • APO participation in critical incidents press conferences is a national best practice supporting transparency and real-time monitoring. • No additional funding allocation during budget …
