APD Undertakes New Training Reforms Amid Controversial Adoption Pace
In Austin, Texas, the city law enforcement agency, the Austin Police Department (APD), is set to oversee a set of new training reforms after claims stating its slow and disputed adoption of these changes. The move to reform often came under close scrutiny by a third-party review, stating that APD was sluggish in adoption and often resisted changes.
Reforming the System
The reform measures were initiated when city officials called out for a comprehensive review of the APD’s culture and imposed a temporary halt on all cadet academy sessions in late 2019 and early 2020. While several classes of cadets have graduated from the restructured program since the academy resumed in 2021, analysts and observers from the community argue that many updates are confronted with internal opposition and further work is required to solidify the process for the future.
“It’s one thing for a police department to agree to implement change, it’s another to actually make it happen,” said Mark Ehlers, engagement leader of Kroll Associates Inc., the firm that has investigated the APD for years.
A Deep-Dive Into the Situation
The city officials employed Kroll, an advisory firm, to analyze various operational aspects of APD, with a particular focus on cadet training. Over the years, Kroll released multiple reports regarding the academy and other law enforcement issues in Austin.
The advisory firm released its final review of APD in March, which included the department’s plans to sustain the recent reform initiatives even without external monitoring. The APD has recently completed a new operations manual intended to guide the academy’s work in the upcoming future.
The various adjustment subjects, such as the APD’s adoption of Kroll’s suggestions, its collaboration with community members on cadet training, and the involvement of the civilian leadership at the academy have all experienced a turbulent implementation since the city officials first intended to “reimagine” specific areas of public safety in Austin in 2020.
Looking Ahead
Kroll, in its last review, emphasized that many of its proposals had not been successfully executed. For instance, the APD at present “lacks a clear process” for emphasizing its culture changes. As per Kroll’s report, a “clear imbalance of authority” continues between civilian and sworn police staff and support for diversity initiatives require much more clarity beyond the standard “aspirational language” in the department’s planning.
The APD is currently gamboling towards hiring more civilian academy staff and establishing new community and professional advisory committees to raid the training program and instructional materials. With this groundwork, the department’s focus will shift towards creating a long-term sustainable process.
“While there’s lots of work to do, I’m now being given the opportunity to do it and do it effectively. And that’s what I intend to do,” said Rob McGrath, the APD’s new program manager overseeing the curriculum.
Further Developments
Following the exit of Kroll from its oversight and advisory role, the APD must take the reins in monitoring the proposed updates in the academy. The department will carry out continued internal evaluations based on the new academy operations manual.
The APD and city officials agreed that the efficient use of the new guidebook, inclusive of up-to-date reporting based on academy sessions, will be instrumental in the implementation of changes, particularly after the APD failed to meet previous deadlines and complete the series of required audits.
Transformations In Progress
Dan Linskey, previous Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston Police Department and a Kroll policing expert, also echoed that Austin needs to ensure nonpolice voices are heard at the academy if the “required” culture shift is to proceed.
