The Austin City Council unanimously approved the appointment of Robin Henderson as Interim Chief of Police for the City of Austin at its Regular Meeting on Thursday.

Henderson has served the Austin Police Department for 26 years, most recently as Chief of Staff to Chief Joseph Chacon, who announced his retirement last week.

Henderson addressed the City Council, congratulating Chacon and thanking him for recommending her to serve as Interim Chief of Police.

“I value the trust he has put in me to move the organization forward in a positive direction,” Henderson said. “I am truly honored and humbled and I appreciate the opportunity to serve as your Interim Chief.”

In her role as Chief of Staff, Henderson oversaw all Austin Police Department operations which includes a workforce of approximately 2,200 sworn and civilian personnel. She also managed several specialized units including Peer Support, the Counter Attack Strike Team (CAST) and the Executive Protection Unit (EPU).

During her career with APD, Henderson has served in various assignments including Executive Lieutenant, Patrol Lieutenant, Cadet Training, Field Training, Internal Affairs, Person and Property Investigations, Street Response, and Patrol.

“Chief Henderson is an experienced, respected veteran of the Austin Police Department with a passion for public service and making a positive impact on the community,” Interim City Manager Jesús Garza said. “She is a true servant leader and I am confident she will do an excellent job leading the department during this time of transition.”

###