 "Photo: Paul Wentzell")
The city's five candidates vying for chief of police were available for media questions at a press conference Sunday. The Austin Police Department is closer to appointing someone to this position, which has been filled by Acting Chief of Police Cathy Ellison since May 2006.
The candidates faced questions about the use of force, as more details of the most recent officer-involved shooting were made public throughout the week.
Art Acevedo, Jimmie Dotson, Cathy J. Ellison, Roger Reinke and Richard Wiles are contenders for the police chief position. Each of the five shared their ideas Sunday on the future of Austin, the use of deadly force by police officers and the building of trust between officers and community members. Most media questions pertained to how APD handles race relations and sensitivity.
At the press conference Sunday, police chief candidates did not comment on the Kevin Brown shooting, due to lack of knowledge, but shared personal experiences of incidents in which deadly force was used and ideas for punishing officers who use it unjustifiably.
The city of Austin will hold forums Monday and Tuesday for the public to meet and greet the police chief candidates. The community meetings will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday and at 8:30 a.m. and noon on Tuesday at the Palmer Events Center at 900 Barton Springs Rd. Feedback from these sessions will be used in making a final recommendation for the position, according to a statement released by the city of Austin Public Information Office.
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