Retired Austin Cop Investigated Amid Racism Allegations

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin city manager has taken steps to hire an outside investigator to look into racism allegations made against a former assistant police chief who abruptly retired last week, according to a news report.

The probe was sparked from anonymous complaints to a police oversight body relating to Assistant Chief Justin Newsom and others said to have regularly used abusive, racist language. Cronk made his intentions to launch an investigation known in a letter to city council and the mayor that was obtained by KVUE.

"I wanted you to know that I am aware of the anonymous complaints filed with the Office of Police Oversight regarding former Assistant Chief Justin Newsom, and the other leaders in the police department," the letter reads in part. "Today I received the formal complaints prepared by the Director of Police Oversight, Farah Muscadin. Given the allegations, I have decided to engage an outside party to investigate. My hope is to have an investigator on board next week."

Newsom abruptly retired from the Austin Police Department after 23 years on the job. In his letter, Cronk vowed to take appropriate disciplinary action if the allegations of rampant abusive rhetoric prove accurate.

In a public apology as the investigation was being launched, Newsom acknowledged having used inappropriate language in private conversation. He released a public statement expressing contrition, as KXAN reported.

“Although I don’t remember having made the alleged statements, I have used inappropriate language in private conversations with friends,” Newsom wrote. “Racial insensitivity is inexcusable and doesn’t reflect my values, the values of our community, or the Austin Police Department. Despite using poor judgment, I hope my 23-year career as a police officer who treated everyone with dignity and respect will reflect my best intentions to serve this city. I sincerely apologize to anyone that I may have hurt with my words.”

Some members of the Austin City Council reportedly were scheduled to stage a press conference on Friday at 11 a.m. to address the allegations and subsequent investigation.

Newsom was overseeing the police department's response to the homeless issue at the time of his retirement, a source told Patch. Asked to comment about his role in the homeless initiative, police did not provide specific details related to his role in the effort: "Justin Newsom was an Assistant Chief who oversaw the downtown area," police wrote in response to questions from Patch.

Austin City Council members recently rescinded parts of an ordinance overseeing the homeless population that required dismantling of tents used as makeshift housing and moving people living on the streets from certain parts of the city. The city's police were tasked with implementing those measures, and Newsom was put in charge of oversight in that task.