Final report: Town Hall on Public Safety: People with Disabilities and Policing

In 2020, the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) launched an initiative to address the concerns of community members living with disabilities and their experience with policing in Austin, Texas. In collaboration with the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities and community advocates, OPO hosted two community events to learn more about the experiences that people with disabilities have with the Austin Police Department (APD). This report discusses the findings and recommendations based on the community feedback collected at the events.

OPO's goal was to listen to community members, learn from their lived experiences, and develop actionable recommendations to improve interactions with law enforcement. We are grateful to the community members who trusted us to hold space for these critical discussions, and we sincerely thank all participants for their willingness to contribute.

This project was made possible thanks to the support of our partners, who provided expert consultation to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. Along with the Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities, partners included ArtSpark Texas, U.R. Our Hope, SAFE Alliance, Texas Parent to Parent, the APD, the City of Austin's Americans with Disabilities Act Program, the Equity Office, and staff volunteers from departments across the City. We are truly grateful for their help in making this work possible.

While this report highlights many areas for improvement, there are even more opportunities to build trust with community members and demonstrate a commitment to safety for all. OPO will continue to work with community members, APD, and City leadership to enhance safety and improve interactions between APD and people with disabilities.