Austin Council Approves Police Department Probe

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin City Council on Thursday unanimously voted to launch a department-wide probe into abuse within the Austin Police Department — including examples of homophobia, racism and sexism — that includes an audit of officers' social media posts.

Council members opted to take up the resolution that includes delaying police cadet class graduations while a formal investigation occurs. The delay would be in effect until fall 2020.

The probe into the police academy was launched after complaints were received accusing former Austin Police Department Assistant Chief Justin Newsom of liberally using racist language.
The complaints prompted Newsom to formally retire before issuing a statement in which he acknowledged long using racist language while apologizing to the public.

Related story: Retired Austin Cop Investigated Amid Racism Allegations

The proposed resolution calls for a third party to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of racism within the Austin Police Department. Until the investigation is completed, only one cadet class at the academy would be allowed to graduate under provisions of the resolution.

Prior to Thursday's meeting, District 1 City Council member Natasha Harper-Madison called for approval of the resolution during a press conference. “A deeper dive into the department in order to surface the extent in which racism or bigotry informed APD’s basic protocols,” Harper-Madison said during her press conference.

Earlier, the police union also called for the matter to be investigated while lamenting the corrosive effect a freeze on cadet graduations might have on what they perceive as an already overtaxed police squad with too few members: "This action would cause even more vacancies in the department," police union officials wrote on their Facebook page the day before the council gathering. "Hopefully, the council won't let the suspected actions of one individual endanger every working cop and citizen in the city."