Item 6. Draft Recommendation- APD’s 2027 Budget and Lack of Performance Metrics for the APD Training Academy — original pdf

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. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Public Safety Commission Recommendation Number: [YYYYMMDD-XXX] Recommendation to the Austin City Council Regarding the Austin Police Department’s 2027 Budget and Lack of Performance Metrics for the Austin Police Department Training Academy Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin City Council approve the 2027 budget for the Austin Police Department with no increase above the 2026 funding level, except for the funds necessary to fulfill labor contract obligations; and add detailed performance metrics to the training and recruitment programs at Austin Police Department. WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department Training Academy has been a locus of concern among city leaders and community advocates for over eight years; WHEREAS, in spite of this focus, there are no meaningful performance metrics linked to the Training Academy and the Training Academy continues to be a black box that for every 100 cadets who enter, fewer than 70 Austin Police officers complete the Academy. WHEREAS, in December 2019, the Austin City Council suspended APD’s Training Academy to facilitate a review and over hall of the curriculum; WHEREAS, City Council and community leaders concerns focused on training materials and teaching that reinforced racially biased policing, reducing incidents of inappropriate and excessive use of force by APD, and the academy’s role in instilling a “warrior” mentality in cadets charged with keeping Austinites safe; WHEREAS, the Training Academy re-opened in June of 2021, without completion of the independent curriculum review, without clearly addressing council members and community concerns and without permitting independent community monitors to observe classes in the academy; WHEREAS, the Austin Public Safety Commission has monitored and repeatedly expressed concern regarding the lack of verifiable changes in the curriculum and training provided by the academy, as well as no indication that the culture of the academy had been transformed; WHEREAS, the Austin Public Safety Commission has monitored and expressed repeated concerns regarding regular cadet academy retention rates, which have varied from 26.5% to 44% of cadets failing to complete the nine month training academy because they either quit or were terminated from the program; . WHEREAS, when asked to explain the inordinately high dropout rates for academy classes, Austin Police Department provided vague answers and lacked specific reasons for why a large proportion of dropouts leave the academy for “personal reasons;” WHEREAS, on October 6, 2025, the Austin Public Safety Commission issued a Resolution recommending a complete audit of the Training Academy reforms; WHEREAS, the Austin Public Safety Commission’s October 6, 2025 Recommendation documented in detail the timeline of failed reform efforts and included extensive documentation of the process from independent police consultants Kroll Associates, Inc.; WHEREAS, continuing to increase the Austin Police Department’s recruitment budget without addressing the attrition crisis, lack of performance metrics and failure of systemic reforms at the Training Academy, not only rewards failure, but it also risks abandoning the goal of transforming APD’s culture to be consistent with the expectations and values of Austin. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The Public Safety Commission recommends to the City of Austin that: • • In its 2027 Austin Police Department budget, limit the increase in funding over the baseline 2026 budget to only what is required by labor contract obligations and other law; Implement stringent performance metrics for Austin Police Department’s recruitment efforts and the Training Academy in the 2027 budget; and • Order a thorough and independent audit of the Training Academy, including both curriculum and operations, as well as review of the underlying causes of cadet dissatisfaction and failure to complete training. Seconded By: Date of Approval: Motioned By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________