Austin Police Association Ready to Implement Prop A, Ensuring Officer Accountability and Public Safety

Many thought the APA would block Prop A. They were wrong.

For months, we've worked with the city to find a middle ground on police accountability and transparency, as voted for by y'all good folks in Austin. We knew the contract had to balance civilian oversight with fairness and due process for our boys in blue. After all, APD vacancies ain't no joke, and we need to keep our best cops while attracting new ones.

"We recognized that the contract would need to remove barriers to the city implementing the civilian oversight directed by Prop A..." said Ken Casaday, APA President and all-around good guy.

We sat down with the city folks and pinpointed four areas where Prop A and Texas law clash like a hipster and a cowboy: definition changes, confidential files, extending investigation days, and grievance procedures. Y'all know we can't break state law without a contract, so we crafted one that lets Prop A ride into town without spitting in the eye of Texas statutes.

The APA has worked harder than a mule team to write up somethin' that gives y'all oversight while ensuring our cops don't get dragged through the mud without due process. We aimed for fairness and transparency sharper than a brand-new boot.

Now, we've reached a deal sweeter than fresh-baked apple pie: the APA is takin' down them barriers, and the city's put up guardrails. We're ready to send a contract to the City Council that'll make Prop A a reality.

Let's be clear as a mountain stream: Austinites can't rely on 911 like they used to. Y'all are waitin' too long for help, and it ain't right. APD is short-staffed as a Sunday barbeque, and public safety is at risk.

The APA wants our best cops to stick around, and we aim to attract new ones. We're proposin' a pay package that'll make Austin the place to be for law enforcement. We ain't messin' around with public safety.

This here's a chance for a fresh start, a chance to lasso our public safety staffing crisis by the horns. The APA is rarin' to go – how about the city?

Bullock, Ken. "Opinion: Austin Police Contract Negotiations Must Be Done in Public View, Not Privately." austinchronicle.com, January 17, 2023. https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-01-17/austin-police-contract-negotiations-must-be-done-in-public-view-not-privately/#:~:text=For%20the%20past%20six%20months,contract%20process%2C%20as%20each%20change&text=This%20contract%20process%2C%20established%20by,to%20legally%20fully%20implement%20Prop.