Report: Austin police investigated fewer complaints from community members in 2022

 

Office of Police Oversight annual report shows four-year decline in complaint investigation   The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is releasing the 2022 annual report to document and share OPO’s activities and achievements last year. The report is available to the public and highlights the work of the office’s multiple divisions, including complaints, policy and research, and communications and community engagement. In 2022, the Austin Police Department (APD) investigated only 6.8% of the external complaints submitted for investigation from OPO. APD investigated 47 of the 689 external complaints submitted by community members. APD investigated 62.2% of external complaints in 2019. The number of external complaints investigated fell to 50.8% in 2020 and dropped to 40.9% in 2021. “The decrease in the number of external complaints investigated by APD reflects an opportunity for APD to build trust with the community,” said Gail McCant, OPO Director. “Complaints and compliments are the community’s way of starting an open and honest dialogue with APD and OPO can help facilitate this conversation. OPO and APD can work in conjunction to respond to these forms of community feedback and enter into this dialogue in good faith. In doing so, our two departments can reverse this downward trend and restore community trust." Download the full statement for media here. Other report highlights include: In 2022, OPO received 1,876 contacts from the community and requested that the Austin Police Department (APD) investigate 689 external complaints from community members. In 2022, 132 APD officers received discipline. Of the 132 officers disciplined, 113 were the subject of internal complaints. Only 19 were the subject of external complaints. OPO’s expanded policy and research division made 140 recommendations to improve APD’s body-worn and dashboard camera policies. OPO also made 17 broader recommendations to change APD’s policy development practices. In 2022, OPO hosted four events to gather feedback from community members and attended 41 public events.  To view the full report, visit atxpoliceoversight.org.

About the Office of Police Oversight   The mission of the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is to provide impartial oversight of the Austin Police Department's conduct, practices, and policies to enhance accountability, inform the public to increase transparency, and create sustainable partnerships throughout the community.