TV News & Other
02-29-08: Kvue:Panel upholds firing of Austin police officer
11-14-07: Officer shooting investigation ordered; Police to file grievance
06-21-07: Council approves Acevedo as Chief
06-20-07: City Leaders Look To Mend Ties With Minority Community
03-27-07: APD Officer injured in accident back on job
01-23-07: Officers slept in cars, substations during ice storm
01-22-07: APD addresses staffing shortage

2006 Other News ARCHIVES

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TV NEWS STORIES & OTHER NEWS SOURCES

02-29-08: KVUE
Panel upholds firing of Austin police officer

06:02 PM CST on Friday, February 29, 2008

KVUE News staff reports

The three-member Civil Service Commission upheld Friday the firing of an Austin police officer who shot a man in East Austin in 2007.

Fired Sgt. Michael Olsen fatally shot Kevin Brown near Chester's Nightclub last summer. Olsen appealed his termination and took his case before the Civil Service Commission this month.

Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo testified Thursday in the hearing. He said Brown did not need to die, and Olsen has a history of being quick to act.

"It's about a series of events and decisions on the part of Sgt. Olsen that led to the death of an individual that I strongly believe did not need to die," said Acevedo during the hearing.

In 2002, Olsen used excessive force against a man. He was later suspended for 60 days for using unnecessary force and for lying about it.

Olsen's attorney Tom Stribling questioned whether Olsen received proper training. He also said Olsen does not have a history of lying.

Police Chief Art Acevedo said he believed in the committee’s decision.

“We really believe in this decision. This department believes in this decision. The first thing we want to emphasize is the how proud we are in the APD. We believe that our officers are the best in the nation. However, when it comes to accountability, we have to hold our people accountable. We stand by our decision,” he said. “But the most important thing for the men and women of this department to realize is that when we do things right, and we've had four officer involved shootings here in this city. That we will support them."

Olsen and his attorney said they will be considering their options.

“State civil service law does allow us to appeal this decision today to district court. We will be considering all of our options over the next few days,” said Stribling.

“I can just tell you we will pursue all options that we need to pursue and I’m going to get on with my life and do whatever I have to do to get through all this,” said Olsen.

Olsen was a 12 year veteran of APD.

He does have a new job lined up -- he will serve as the full time president and founder of True Vineyard Ministries. The organization helps people in third world countries that have been affected by HIV or other illnesses.

The Austin Police Association released the following statement after the panel's decision was announced:

"The Austin Police Association is disappointed in the decision made today by the Civil Service Commission. We believe Sgt. Michael Olsen acted within the Austin Police Department’s Use of Force policies and that his civil service rights were violated repeatedly during this appeals process.

"The decision to use lethal force often highlights the difficult environment and dangers of being a Police Officer and the split second decisions Officers make while putting their own lives at risk on a daily basis to protect the lives of citizens we serve. These decisions are almost always subject to months and years of intense review with the clarity of 20/20 hindsight.

"The Use of Force policies of the Austin Police Department, in particular the Lethal Force policy, are very clear as written. 'Deadly force may only be used when the officer has a reasonable belief that another person poses a threat of death or serious physical harm either to the officer or another.'

"Sgt. Mike Olsen clearly believed that Kevin Brown was armed and dangerous. The evidence shows that Mr. Brown was armed with a pistol during the foot pursuit and because he was armed he posed a threat to Sgt. Olsen’s safety.

"In this case, Sgt. Olsen’s rights and due process were violated. The city violated it’s contract with the Union by releasing confidential information about the investigation, prior to his disciplinary review board. In addition, the Civil Service Commission denied Sgt. Olsen’s request to take this case to arbitration, even though the request was made within the required time period. Furthermore, the Civil Service Commission failed to render a decision within the jurisdictional timeline."

11-14-07: CBS42
Officer shooting investigation ordered; Police to file grievance


Watch the video

Reporter: Keith Elkins

(CBS 42)

The group that represents Austin police officers is filing a grievance against the city concerning its actions calling for an independent investigation of an officer involved shooting.

Sgt. Michael Olsen killed Kevin Brown in June after a foot chase from an East Austin nightclub. A witness had reported to police Brown had a gun.

The Austin Police Association says the city released private information about Olsen in violation of his civil service rights. It contends the city also violated the police contract in the series of steps it took to investigate the shooting.

According to the contract, the Citizens Review Panel can ask the police monitor to request the city manager to arrange an independent review.

City spokesman Gene Acuna however says the police monitor can independently ask for this review without the Citizens Review Panel.

Wednesday, Police Monitor Cliff Brown and City Manager Toby Futrell announced it had already hired a company to conduct the investigation even though the Citizens Review Panel has not met yet.

In a memo released Wednesday, Cliff Brown cited Internal Affairs' findings that "…Sergeant Olsen's tactics leading to the encounter did violate APD policy but [Internal Affairs] plan to recommend a finding of 'inconclusive' on… whether Sergeant Olsen unnecessarily used deadly force…"

City Manager Toby Futrell says the review will be conducted by Kroll Government Services. Kroll is currently the court-appointed, independent monitor for both the Los Angeles and Detroit Police Departments.

The city will pay two Kroll employees $325 and $275 an hour to conduct the probe.

The review and report are expected to be completed by November 27. Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has until the end of the month to act on the Internal Affairs report.

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06-21-07: KVUE
Council approves Acevedo as chief

06:38 PM CDT on Thursday, June 21, 2007

By RUDY KOSKI
KVUE News

Austin's new police chief says he is ready to get to work. Thursday the austin city council confirmed the selection of Art Acevedo, 42. The vote at city hall went just as expected. It was unanimous.

The council action formally closes a year long search for a new police chief. But, before a vote was taken, interim chief Cathy Ellison was recognized for running the police department. Ellison was one of several candidates under consideration for the top cop job. It is now unclear if she will stay on, or if she will submit paperwork for retirement.

Acevedo was told by city manager Toby Futrell and several council members that he is the right man for the job at the right time. Acevedo is coming from the California Highway Patrol Department. He is recognized as a person who can pull a community together. The confirmation vote by the council Thursday morning was an example of that, it was unanimous. After the vote, Acevedo said he is ready to get to work.

"I'm leaving this afternoon, to take care of my other job and wind down there, and will back on the 16th of July, but I've already started the work, I've been back since Monday, meeting with command staff, I've met with the community, taking part in community meetings and so I'm ready to go, willing and able and look forward to working with all of you in the future," said Acevedo.

The new police chief will not only have to work with the community but also with the head of the police union. Police Association President Jim Beck is also new to his job. According to Beck, he and the new chief appear to be on the same page -- for now.

"This is a positive step in the right direction; he brings together a lot of people in the community and the department. He has not had the job yet, and he is already visiting with the substations and community groups, talking with officers about what is working, what’s not working. It is encouraging," said Beck.

Acevedo understands he is not getting a free pass because of all of the kind words.

“It makes me feel good, but it is something, you know when you are a police chief. I'm not a fool, you are only as good as your last battle, incident, so my job is really to continue that momentum, build on that momentum, and make sure we have their trust and respect of the community and that our officers understand, know the community and respect them as well. So I look forward to it, it is a challenge but I don’t think, together there is nothing we can’t overcome as a community," said Acevedo.

Part of that is knowing what the community wants. The city is wrapping up a survey on public safety concerns in Austin. Written comments can be brought to city hall, but must be done before the end of the month. Those comments will be reviewed by city leaders and the new police chief.

Chief Acevedo has to go through one more ceremony. He will be sworn in next month. At that time he will be given his official APD badge.

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06-20-07: KXAN
City Leaders Look To Mend Ties With Minority Community
June 19, 2007 05:52 PM CDT

As Juneteenth celebrates emancipation and remembering the past, city leaders said they look forward to the future.

Many in Austin's minority community said the shooting death of Kevin Brown was just the latest proof that police officers are too quick to use excessive force in their neighborhoods.

It's a divide that has grown for years, but city leaders said they're ready to close the gap.

"We have to have mutual cooperation and mutual respect, without that we can't go anywhere," said Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder.

"This is an event where us, as a community, can come together and be together," said Sgt. Jim Beck, president of the Austin Police Association. "It's important for them to especially have the kids see an officer in a non-enforcement capacity.”

"I was very glad that Mr. Linder walked with us in the parade," Beck added. "I thought that was a tremendous sign."

Beck and Linder said another good sign was the appointment of Art Acevedo as police chief.

"I consider myself a cop, a public servant, and I tell my officers if you don't have the heart of a servant, you don't belong in law enforcement," Acevedo said. "If my officers are right, public sentiment is not an issue to me. I am gonna do what's the right thing to do. If my officers are wrong, I owe it to the hard men and women of the organization to hold those officers accountable."

"Lets face it, we have some constant challenges in this city, but if we don't talk to each other and show folks by example, we really can't solve these issues," Linder said. "We have a new opportunity. The key is gonna be: Will we take advantage of it? Peace is always better than war."

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03-27-07: KVUE
APD officer injured in accident back on the job

08:23 PM CDT on Tuesday, March 27, 2007

By KEVIN PETERS/KVUE News

An Austin police officer who lost part of his right leg in a motorcycle accident while on patrol is back on the job.

One way to measure an officer’s service is in the amount of years. But in Dave Erskine’s case, his service can now be measured in the number of steps.

Last January, walking, even standing as he had known, came to an abrupt halt. That’s when the motorcycle officer, riding a spare bike, tried to catch up to a speeder in northeast Austin. While passing a car, a truck unexpectedly pulled around the corner, forcing him to hit the breaks. His body and bike slammed into the vehicle, smashing the bones in his lower right leg, among other injuries.

Erskine spent the next six weeks in the hospital, where his right leg, six inches above the ankle, had to be amputated.

“You have to make light of it in your own mind, because if you dwell on it too much, you’ll just be worried all the time,” said Erskine.

Now armed with a prosthetic leg, and the same sense of humor he’s carried with him the entire time, Erskine has made his return to the Austin Police Department, working part-time as an instructor at the Police Academy.

But that’s not his final goal.

“Ultimately, I would love to get back on bikes, but I may have to do patrol,” he said.

Either way, Erskine is helping reshape the meaning behind an officer’s service, one step at a time.

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01-23-07: KVUE
Officers slept in cars, substations during ice storm
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
By MELISSA MCGUIRE
KVUE News

Austin's recent ice storm has raised questions about where emergency
responders should go when they can't go home. KVUE News has learned some
Austin police officers slept in their cars or substations.

"The question is really how do we take care of emergency personnel, those
essential personnel of the city, when an emergency situation like this ice
storm occurs," said Jim Beck, Austin Police Association president.

Beck said he recently learned that several police officers slept at
substations or in their vehicles during the storm because it wasn't safe for
them to drive home.

"I haven't talked to all of the officers involved in this, but I know that
all of the stories are the same with each officer I talked to about what
they had to go through," said Beck.

Acting Police Chief Cathy Ellison was unaware officers were not able to
drive home. She says there is a plan in place to accommodate officers, but
many just didn't know about it.

Ellison says the fire stations were available to officers, as well as
recreation centers.
She says poor communication is to blame.

"We do need to do a better job at that. We want to take care of our
officers," Ellison said. "They worked very hard during the ice storm. The
least we can do is make sure they have the accommodations they need to get
rest and come back out."

Ellison says she is looking into whether the officers who stayed in hotels
will be reimbursed and whether cots may be needed at the substations.

Beck believes the issue could affect all emergency responders, not just
police, and he plans to present some suggestions to the city.

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01-23-07: KVUE

APD addresses staffing shortage
Monday, January 22, 2007
By MELISSA MCGUIRE
KVUE News

The Austin Police Department, much like law enforcement across the nation,
is dealing with a shortage of qualified police recruits. APD currently has
82 vacancies on the force and is constantly working to fill openings.
APD currently has a cadet class in training. Officials say they are trying
to bring in qualified recruits, including more women. But some wonder if
more needs to be done.

Seventy cadets passed the department's fitness test last year, but there
were 105 vacancies in the department.

Sgt. Jim Beck, Austin Police Association President, says there is a
nationwide shortage of police recruits. He believes Austin should do more to
compete with other cities, like offer signing bonuses.

"We currently are not doing that. We may have to," Beck said. "The APD has
high standards, and we have not lowered those standards so that we are still
attracting the highest quality."

An Austin police cadet receives a salary of about $32,000. But during their
first year with the force, that salary jumps to among the highest in the
state. APD officers make $47,000. Dallas and San Antonio officers make much
less.

Currently APD has 82 vacancies, which means it is understaffed by 5.6
percent. Dallas is nearly 7 percent understaffed. San Antonio is 2 percent
understaffed.

APD Lieutenant Raul Munguia says keeping officers is a constant issue, but
they're trying new efforts, including recruiting more women. He says women
make up about 11 percent of Austin police officers, which is he says is near
the national average.

"It's an issue were facing right now and were trying to address that," he
said. "We'd like to see numbers go up, so we've been concentrating on trying
to hire more women to be police officers here in Austin."

APD was losing many women recruits during the physical ability course. APD
now offers a preparation course so applicants can preview the course and
train accordingly.

APD recruits at local colleges and job fairs, including military sites.
Thursday, they will recruit at a job fair in Killeen.
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