On September 10, 2020, the City of Austin announced the first members of the newly formed Community Police Review Commission (CPRC).
The CPRC is a group of volunteers appointed by the City Manager as another tool for accountability and transparency in policing. Commissioners can:
- Make policy-level recommendations regarding discipline, training, community relations, and the Office of Police Oversight's (OPO) complaint process
- Address any other issues of concern by the community
- Review patterns and practices of the Austin Police Department (APD)
- Assess critical incidents and review individual cases of police misconduct
- Make fair and objective recommendations, and make decisions based only on the facts and evidence
- Assess the effectiveness of OPO
Since October 2020, Commissioners have held virtual meetings open to the community on the first Monday of every month. During their meetings, they have received presentations from OPO, the Community Video Review Panel (a group of community members chosen to review APD training videos), the Equity Office, and community organizations.
The CPRC developed a mission statement to listen to and promote the community's voice in policing and public safety in Austin. The CPRC encourages conduct, practices, and policies that support dignity and equity.
As part of its role, the CPRC has also identified various areas of policing to research and provide recommendations for improvement. All formal letters of recommendation, meeting recordings and agendas, and presentations can be found on the Commission's website click here.