Austin's Top Cop Disciplined For 'Insubordination'

AUSTIN, TX -- Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has been disciplined by the city manager, who said the head of the police force defied orders not to discuss an officers's killing of an unarmed black teen in February.

The Austin American-Statesman obtained records detailing the punishment doled out by City Manager Marc Ott. For discussing the case with the media and members of the Black Lives Matter movement who were galvanized in protest, Acevedo was docked five days pay and warned his job could be in jeopardy, the Statesman reports.

Shortly after officer Geoffrey Freeman shot David Joseph, 17, last February, Acevedo sought to quell rising tensions by meeting with some members of Black Lives Matter to assure them a full investigation would occur. Ultimately, that meeting -- including a press conference during which the chief appeared with the activists -- is at the center of the officials reprimand for what the city manager labeled as insubordination.

Especially critical of Acevedo's efforts to quell racial tension were members of the police union, who lambasted the chief with their own press conference. Its members said the chief had prejudged the case and compromised the officer's right to a fair investigation.

Freeman, the officer who killed the unaarmed, naked teenager within seconds of their encounter later said the boy had charged at him while disobeying his commands to stop. Acevedo later removed the officer from the force.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Acevedo made comments that the police union claimed showed he had prejudged the case and potentially violated the officer’s right to a fair investigation.

But the documents obtained by the newspaper illustrate past concerns Ott has had about the chief's performance. In an April 15 memorandum, Ott told the chief he could be fired for future misconduct revolving around "operation and judgment concerns," although the issues weren't specified.

Acevedo earns a salary of $206,086, meaning the five-day dock in pay would amount to $4,000.

In a prepared statement, Acevedo said he disagreed with Ott's actions, but respected his authority to exercise his authority. Further, he defended his own actions in speaking of the Joseph shooting as an effort to quell community tensions in the wake of the young man's death.

“I respectfully differ with the city manager and Austin Police Association about my public remarks and response to the officer-involved shooting on February 8, 2016," Acevedo wrote. "I acted in the best interests of the City of Austin, Austin Police Department, and community after a tragic incident that cost a young life and ended a police officer’s career.