Last night, I listened to hours of shocking and heartbreaking testimony and videos from individuals who participated in the protests last weekend and throughout the week. Our community – our neighbors – bravely showed up to express their outrage and horror over the violent death of George Floyd, Mike Ramos, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and so many people of color before and after them. As we heard through emotional testimony last night, several of these protestors were gravely injured – including Brad Levi Ayala, Justin Howell, and Saraneka Martin. These individuals’ lives and the lives of their family members will never be the same – and this is unacceptable.
Our City should have been a safe space for the rightful expression of outrage toward police brutality, systemic racism, and violence inflicted upon communities of color. Along with thousands who have contacted my office, I am appalled that impact ammunition (such as bean bag rounds), tear gas, and pepper spray were used on our neighbors, with significant injuries for multiple people.
Our community is hurting and angry. We need answers, and we need accountability. City Manager Cronk, Assistant City Manager Arellano, and APD are conducting an after-action report, and today during our Council meeting I urged that the after-action report include information and evidence from members of the public who participated in the protests so that we can get a full and broad understanding of the events as they transpired, particularly with regard to use of force.
Today I also urged City Manager Cronk to develop a clear, solid, and immediate Operational Plan for implementing evidence-based reform so this never happens in our community again.
Some changes can and should happen immediately: Chief Manley announced today a change in policy about using “bean bag” impact ammunition on crowds, and that policy will go into effect right away. As noted by one of my colleagues, this policy change would not have addressed Brad Levi Ayala’s devastating injuries, as he was not in a crowd when he was senselessly struck by bean bag impact ammunition. More must be done.
I support Campaign Zero’s
#8CantWait
policies, and I believe those immediate actions will come before City Council next week. I also support the City of Austin implementing the four steps identified by
Brother’s Keeper Alliance
to: review police use of force policies; engage our community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in the review; report and seek feedback on the review; and then implement use of force policy reform.
We need transformational change now.
We must develop a community model of policing that builds trusting relationships with neighbors and particularly within communities of color. We will not tolerate a police culture that fosters racism, sexism, or homophobia. As a Council Member, I will hold our City Manager responsible for implementing the cultural change called for by the findings of the Tatum Report.
We must develop a more robust training system to train officers in implicit bias and de-escalation. Officers who cannot adhere to the tenets of these trainings do not belong in our police department. These are not new recommendations; the City Council has called for these changes multiple times, and processes are already underway to change the police academy curriculum and implement other measures. But the events of the last week have indicated a need for immediate and more transformational movement on this important work.
Many of you have written here or via email to express your anger at my vote last night to accept a grant to help continue the APD vehicle theft program. Please know I am hearing and listening to your rationale for wanting to see a “no” vote on that agenda item, and I acknowledge the hurt many of you have expressed that such a vote would happen after the testimony that took place. I will continue to listen to your feedback on this and other decisions before us as we do the hard work together to bring about transformational reform.
My commitment to the community is unwavering: I will do everything in my power to advocate for comprehensive criminal justice and law enforcement reforms, and to implement a model of policing that builds on trust and accountability.
Best,
Kathie Tovo
Council Member District 9
