REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at participation by christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Denise L Eger Kimberly Hidrogo CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair David Holmes Yasmine Smith Michael Sierra-Arévalo AGENDA 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 January 5, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire. Presentation by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. Presentation regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget, including Public Safety Department allocations, 5-year forecast process, and the budget process. Presentation by Kerri Lang, Director, Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence. 4. 5. Update from Homeless Strategy Office on inclement weather response and new initiatives. Presentation by David Gray, Director, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. Discussion of community concern around interactions between Austin Police with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding inclement weather response and a decentralized intake model. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding data collection around Austin Police’s interaction with U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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 before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, to request service or …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 5, 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, January 5, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026, 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 4:04 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Michael Sierra-Arévalo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: David Holmes Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Scott Johnson – Distracted driving Carlos León - CapMetro APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on December 1, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on December 1, 2025, was approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioner Hidrogo was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police. Presentation by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. The presentation was made by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, January 5, 2026 3. 4. 5. Update on the Counsel at First Appearance Program. Presentation by Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Capital Area Private Defender Service, and Equity Action. The presentation was made by Adeola Ogunkeyede, Chief Public Defender, Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Ryan Crisler, CAPDS Director of Magistration, Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Katy Jo Muncie, CAPDS Director of Defense Services and Outreach, Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Geoff Burkhart, County Executive, Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Kristen Jernigan, Chief Counsel, Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Bob Batlan, Founding Member, Advocates for Social Justice Reform, Savannah Lee, Director of Policy and Operations, Equity Action. Discussion of the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) status of the project as of Q3 2025. Presentation by Hannah Senko, Project Manager, CSCRM Project. Presentation by Hannah Senko, Project Manager, CSCRM Project. Discussion of Public Safety Commission officer roles, agenda, and succession planning. Discussed. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Office of Budget and Organizational Excellence G File Open Records Request Regular updates from Public Safety Unions Homeless Strategy Office Homeland Security ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramírez adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m. without objection. 2
Departmental Overview Public Safety Commission David Gray, Director Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations February 2, 2026 AHSO Vision Everyone has access to stable housing and the support they need to thrive. 2 AHSO Strategic Pillars System Leadership Impactful Community Investments Crisis Response System Management Communications Investing in Our People 3 Cold Weather Shelter Operations Cold Weather Shelter Cold Weather Shelter (CWS) is a life-saving resource for anyone on Austin’s coldest nights. ASHO monitors weather conditions frequently and activates CWS when overnight temperatures at the National Weather Service’s Camp Mabry location are forecasted to reach 35 degrees or below. AHSO makes an activation determination up to one day in advance of the shelter availability and no later than 9 a.m. of the day when shelter could be available. Registration for shelter occurs between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road. This location will act as the central embarkation point for individuals seeking overnight shelter. Snacks, coffee, and other critical resources are provided during the embarkation. Meals are provided at cold weather shelters. Families with children and unaccompanied minors seeking shelter during activation periods will be provided hotel lodging. 5 Cold Weather Shelter Guests can bring their belongings if they can transport them to the OTC and onto a CapMetro Bus. Pets are allowed if they are not aggressive, can be around others, on a leash, and can sleep with their owners. If a pet needs a crate for the evening at the shelter, guests should inform staff at the OTC when registering. Couples can be at the same shelter, but there are separate sleeping areas for women and men. The City does not list the locations of overnight CWS for various reasons, including managing capacity limits and privacy concerns 6 Life-Saving Recount: January 2026 Winter Event During the January 2026 Winter Event, a man was transported to One Texas Center. He was literally almost frozen solid, one shoe off, sock fully wet, and could barely move or speak. HSO and DACC staff took off his wet socks, cleaned his feet, put on clean socks, and gave him a blanket and comfort. After about 10 minutes, he said, “Look! I can move my arms.” After more conversation, HSO and DACC staff convinced the man to let EMS take him to the hospital for further evaluation. That man would not have survived without HSO and DACC …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Public Safety Commission Recommendation Number: 20260202-006: Inclement weather response and decentralized intake model 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 City of Austin has been continually improving and growing their inclement weather response as the city faces an increasing number of storms and extreme weather events; and WHEREAS, the Public Safety Commission has received briefings from Austin Emergency Management and Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations on inclement weather response; and WHEREAS, throughout the course of those discussions the commission has expressed a need for multiple embarkation points for inclement weather response; and WHEREAS, HSEM locates emergency shelter in close proximity to impacted neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, inclement weather impacts residents across every district in the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, CAPMetro limits service during inclement weather; and WHEREAS, our unhoused neighbors reside all over the city with limited access to transportation and means for securing belongings during inclement weather emergencies. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Public Safety Commission recommends Austin Emergency Management and Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations shift to a decentralized intake model for inclement weather shelter operations to ensure equitable and safe access across all districts. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Public Safety Commission recommends further exploration and assessment of alternative intake models in collaboration with service providers to improve safety for residents as they access emergency services. Date of Approval: Motioned By: Seconded By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: _____________________________________________
MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Through: Jon Fortune, Deputy City Manager From: Date: Chief Lisa Davis, Austin Police January 14, 2026 Subject: Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities Under SB 4 (2017) The purpose of this memorandum is to address questions Austin Police (APD) has received from City Council members and our community regarding officers’ cooperation and information sharing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during calls for service. This memorandum clarifies APD’s current policies and outlines the legal restrictions resulting from Senate Bill 4 (2017) (SB 4). Background – APD Response to Disturbance Call On Monday, January 5, 2026, at 4:35 a.m., APD officers responded to a disturbance call in the 6100 block of Blue Stem Trail. During the investigation, officers identified information suggesting that the individual who placed the call may have committed or been involved in a criminal offense. As part of the investigative process, it was discovered that the individual had an active administrative ICE warrant. Following notification, ICE assumed custody of the individual. At no point did APD officers inquire about the individual’s immigration status. It must also be noted that the individual involved had a five-year-old child. This incident garnered significant media attention which has prompted questions and concerns from community members and City leadership regarding APD’s policies, procedures, and required level of cooperation with federal authorities including ICE as outlined in SB 4 (2017) and APD General Orders. Current APD Policy APD General Order 318.3.4 provides guidance on how officers should respond when notified of immigration detainer requests. Officers are required by law to comply with immigration detainer requests. The policy, however, does not specifically address administrative warrants. Officers have not regularly come across administrative warrants in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database which is used to conduct identity checks. In 2025, federal agencies began entering a large volume of administrative warrants into NCIC. Administrative warrants are formatted and look similar to criminal warrants in the system. The administrative warrant directs the officer to contact Page 1 of 2 Date: Subject: January 14, 2026 Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities Under SB 4 (2017) a phone number for “immediate hit confirmation and availability of Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.” This language, especially mention of a detainer, can cause confusion. Restrictions of SB 4 SB 4 (2017) prohibits policies that restrict communication or reasonable cooperation with ICE. Within the legal constraints, …
Case Report Number Occurred Year Reason For Stop Reason for Immigration Inquiry Subject Race/Ethnicity Number of Officers Arrived Zip Code APD_Immigration_Status_Inquiries_20260126 2025691319 2025 VIOLATION OF TRANSPORTATION CODE/VEHICLE LAWS WARRANT 20242641296 2024 VIOLATION OF TRANSPORTATION CODE/VEHICLE LAWS WARRANT 20241500438 2024 CALL FOR SERVICE 2023910031 2023 CALL FOR SERVICE 20223420568 2022 CALL FOR SERVICE 20251510453 2025 CALL FOR SERVICE 20251631068 2025 CALL FOR SERVICE 20252551490 2025 CALL FOR SERVICE WARRANT IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION IDENTIFICATION WARRANT HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO HISPANIC OR LATINO 20253041435 2025 CALL FOR SERVICE IDENTIFICATION HISPANIC OR LATINO 2 2 2 2 3 1 1 4 3 78702 78753 78756 78704 78745 78757 78741 78744 78744 1
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Public Safety Commission Recommendation Number 20260202-007: Data collection on Austin Police interactions with U.S. Immigrations and Customs 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, on January 5 an Austin resident's call for emergency assistance resulted in an Austin Police officer's call and transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the basis of an administrative warrant; the call and transfer led to the deportation of members of the community that called for assistance. WHEREAS, Austin Police is currently working on revising and updating General Orders and standard operating procedures that relate to interactions with ICE.1 WHEREAS, in light of the widely reported January 2026 incident there have been increased calls for clarity around Austin Police s cooperation with ICE. WHEREAS, Resolution 20230914-1322 dictates the capturing all of the following data points: • Call unique identifier, • Call type code (at a minimum, to distinguish calls initiated by an officer and/or officer self- assigned incidents” from calls initiated by a member of the public), • Call date and time, • • • • • • Sector or jurisdiction, Priority level, Initial problem type and final problem type, Incident Category (e.g. violent crime, property crime, medical, traffic, etc.), Any incident sub-categories (e.g. crime description, warrant, burglar alarm, etc. Arrival of first unit date time stamp, 1 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=465846 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=415800 • Call closure date time stamp • Police report filed (yes or no), • Number of officers responding to the call, • Total time spent responding to the call including all responding officers, • Census Block Group of the call for service, WHEREAS, the City of Austin Open Data Portal currently houses data in relation to Resolution 20230914-132 as APD Immigration Status Inquiries” dataset.3 WHEREAS, as of January 26, 2026 the APD Immigration Status Inquiries dataset includes only: • Case Report Number • Occurred Year • Reason for Stop • Reason for Immigration Inquiry • Subject Race/Ethnicity • Number of officers arrived • Zip Code WHEREAS, Austin Police continues to face staffing challenges and the January 2026 Quarterly Report4 5 to Public Safety Commission from Austin Police indicated: • 345 sworn vacancies, • An average P0 Response Time of 9:19 minutes, • An average P1 Response Time of 13:34 minutes, • 27% of Budgeted Overtime already spent (as of Nov 2025), …
Public Safety Commission Quarterly Austin Fire | Tom Vocke | Assistant Chief | FY25 Q4 Emergency Response Time Trends 130,000 110,000 90,000 70,000 11:00 10:00 9:00 8:00 7:00 6:00 5:00 4:00 3:00 2:00 1:00 0:00 89,541 89,563 81,973 86,636 87,935 92,612 89,797 90,956 Incident Volume (All Priorities) 103,626 109,280 110,304 108,750 107,659 Response Times (Priorities 1-3, 4M) 10:28 9:55 10:28 10:32 10:25 10:26 8:51 9:00 9:13 9:12 9:24 9:35 9:58 Response Time Standard: 8 minutes FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26 YTD 2 Facility Improvement Projects Recently Completed Projects: Station 17 Remodel underway, on track for February completion Station 33 Undergoing internal ceiling replacement ENG33 relocated to Station 44 on Jan 20 3 Automatic Aid An Interlocal Agreement to dispatch the closest unit to a 911 call, regardless of department or jurisdiction. Auto Aid occurs multiple times per day and greatly contributes to decreased response times for Austin and Travis County. Recent Success: On Dec 18, Austin Fire and Westlake Fire crews responded to a rescue call where a vehicle rolled off the road and into a steep ditch. Crews from both departments coordinated to prevent the vehicle from sliding further or overturning, stabilizing it enough to extricate a patient. Travis County Fire Rescue (ESD 11) provided auto aid response to a brush fire in Austin Fire territory on Jan 3. ESD 11 provided a skid steer to overturn mulch, exposing previously-hidden smoldering debris to extinguish the fires for good. AFD and Westlake respond together to a vehicle rescue incident. 4 Overdose Response FY26 Q1 Since 2021, all AFD personnel are trained on Naloxone administration and each unit carries the medication. The increase in FY25 Q2 may be due to new reporting requirements for Narcan use starting Dec 2024. 154 115 75 140 106 71 122 117 81 97 66 50 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 88 63 51 FY25 Q1 FY25 Q2 FY25 Q3 FY25 Q4 FY26 Q1 Total calls where Narcan was given Number of times AFD administered or assisted Patient improvement cases 5 Investigations Percent of Arson Fires Cleared: - FY 25 Q2: - FY 25 Q3: - FY 25 Q4: - FY26 Q1: 41% 50% 36% 36% National Clearance Rate: 22% Arson Fires Arson Fires Identified 32 22 42 FY 26 Q1: 42 total fires investigated Arson …
REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at participation by christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith AGENDA 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 December 1, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police. Presentation by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. Update on the Counsel at First Appearance Program. Presentation by Travis County Public Defender’s Office, Capital Area Private Defender Service, and Equity Action. 4. 5. Discussion of the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) status of the project as of Q3 2025. Presentation by Hannah Senko, Project Manager, CSCRM Project. Discussion of Public Safety Commission officer roles, agenda, and succession planning. 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 before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Safety Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, December 1, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, December 1, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, December 1, 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 4:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kimberly Hidrogo Pierre Nguyễn Michael Sierra-Arévalo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Joel Beder – Chicano Park Lori Renteria – Martin Park Carlos León - CapMetro APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on November 3, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on November 3, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Duran’s second, on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Carroll, Holmes, Orr, and Smith were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, December 1, 2025 3. 4. The presentation was made by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Presentation regarding Vision Zero by Joel Meyer, Transportation Safety Officer, Austin Transportation and Public Works. The presentation was made by Joel Meyer, Transportation Safety Officer, Austin Transportation and Public Works. Introduction and overview of Austin Equity and Inclusion. Presentation by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Austin Equity and Inclusion; Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion; and Emi Johnson, Interim Civil Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. The presentation was made by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Austin Equity and Inclusion; Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion; and Emi Johnson, Interim Civil Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Budget Counsel at First Appearance Inclement Weather Response Public Safety Headquarters Whole Blood Wheelchair exits Sobering Center First Pilot Budget/Efficiency Improvements Community Member access to APD ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramírez adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. without objection. 2
APD Quarterly Update to PSC Austin Police | January 5, 2026 Crimes Against Persons by Offense Type June - November Offense Type Aggravated Assault Simple Assault, Intimidation Homicide Offenses Kidnapping/Abduction Sex Offenses Human Trafficking 5-Year Mean Jun-Nov Jun-Nov, 2024 Jun-Nov, 2025 1-Year Change Difference from 5-Year Mean 1,700 7,734 40 126 499 7 1,512 7,523 40 144 493 11 1,343 7,953 28 131 495 3 -11% 6% -30% -9% 0% -73% -21% 3% -31% 4% -1% -58% Source: Versadex 2 Crimes Against Property/Society by Offense Type June - November 5-Year Mean Jun-Nov, 2024 Jun-Nov, 2025 1-Year Change Offense Type Robbery Arson Burglary/Breaking & Entering Larceny/Theft Offenses Motor Vehicle Theft Counterfeiting/Forgery Fraud Offenses Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property Drug/Narcotic Offenses Pornography/Obscene Material Prostitution Offenses Weapon Law Violations Animal Cruelty Jun-Nov 497 76 2,294 12,231 2,693 450 3,167 3,321 1,935 142 26 436 156 424 64 2,032 10,989 2,637 288 2,733 2,973 2,824 154 16 480 225 396 43 2,107 11,203 2,168 283 2,409 2,921 4,119 181 23 482 176 -7% -33% 4% 2% -18% -2% -12% -2% 46% 18% 44% 0% -22% Difference from 5-Year Mean -20% -43% -8% -8% -20% -37% -24% -12% 113% 28% -13% 11% 13% Source: Versadex 3 Crime Reduction Focus Areas Auto Theft Auto Thefts continue to decrease and have reached their lowest numbers since 2018-2019 Seen 36.44% decrease from 2023 to 2025 Auto Theft Unit is actively using proactive initiatives and community engagement to further support this decrease PNI Place Network Investigation (PNI) was recently piloted around E. Braker Lane September 2025, various Austin Police units and several other organizations launched a large- scale operation, focused on two establishments, resulting in three arrests Since that time, only one criminal incident was reported which was the result of a proactive enforcement effort Also seen a reduction in major Calls for Service and no violent crimes have been reported in the area 4 Crime Reduction Focus Areas Encampment Management Cleanup Multiple City Departments engaged in a month-long collaborative effort to support the unhoused population and address safety at local encampments Over 950 individuals were engaged across 585 sites 144 individuals were sheltered and 76 were connected to supportive services Only 64 citations were issued and 21 arrests made Over 563 tons of debris was collected Chicano Park- Car Clubs Residents in East …
APD Follow Up Drug Offenses Austin Police | February 2, 2026 Follow Up Questions from PSC Can you please help us follow up on the questions we had around the Drug Offense category of APD’s quarterly report? We were looking for: A more detailed breakdown of offense types; Geographic location information; Demographic information; and More information on who is spearheading efforts in this category (patrol v special units, etc) 2 Policing Efforts Pandemic-era disruptions significantly reduced drug enforcement activity through 2021 2025 reflects a return to pre-pandemic activity levels Post-pandemic rebound reflects strategic enforcement shifts, not uniform growth Majority of drug-related activity is identified through patrol-based encounters, often tied to calls for service or proactive policing efforts Specialized units support distribution-level and higher-impact cases, particularly involving delivery or repeat offenders This layered approach allows APD to balance public safety priorities with measured enforcement 3 Drug Offense Types Drug offenses break down into three major categories Delivery and paraphernalia offenses increased most sharply Marijuana possession remains below historical levels In 2025, 80% of these incidents resulted in a suspended or open case, meaning no charges were filed on the individual and the marijuana was seized for disposal Less than 18% resulted in an arrest- typically tied to other charges or possession of a felony amount of marijuana Drug offenses co-occur with other, higher, offenses between 12%-23% of the time (2022-2025) Most often with Weapons Law Violations, Simple Assault, and Theft Please note, these major categories make up the majority of drug offenses. There are other smaller offense types not included in this grouping. 4 Geographic Locations • Districts 3, 4, & 9 consistently represent about 2/3 of all drug offenses each year 5 Demographic Information Percent Suspect/Arrested BLACK HISPANIC OR LATINO WHITE 2022 33% 39% 26% 2023 35% 36% 27% 2024 37% 37% 25% 2025 36% 36% 27% From 2022–2025, the racial and ethnic distribution of individuals identified as suspects or arrested for drug offenses has remained relatively stable Year-to-year changes are modest, with no single group experiencing abrupt shifts 6
