,  Black Austin Democrats View All Reponses >>

Although Austin has remained a relatively safe city, there have been far too many shootings of African American men. What kind of changes would you institute at APD to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings and reduce the degree of mistrust that exists between the African American community and the police?

I think the City got off to a good start with the passing of the crime bill back in June and I also feel that is a must that APD hold its officers accountable when one its members wrongfully uses excessive force. Furthermore, I believe that all members of APD must train consistently in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a requirement for employment so that they are more likely to remain calm and composed in adverse situations and have the ability to better subdue a suspect without utilizing their weapon.  This is another issue that I need to thoroughly consult with both black community members and officers in APD.