Austin, TX Duers Police Oversight Fax Action via ACLU

Do it today if you haven't done this. City Council votes on Thursday
3/25.

Sonia
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From: Will Harrell, Executive Director, ACLU of Texas
To: ACLU Action Network Members

Despite allegations of widespread discrimination, police brutality and the killing last year of an unarmed young black man at a traffic stop, the Austin City Council is preparing to dismember the city’s new civilian oversight system in a secretly negotiated collective bargaining agreement with the police union.

The proposed contract would eliminate complainants’ rights to know any details about Internal Affairs investigations of Austin police officers and, by giving the accused officer the evidence against them 48 hours before making his or her own statement, increases the likelihood of the officer making false statements and misleading testimony.

Most officers do not engage in serious misconduct, but for those who do, Austin needs a strong oversight system that works. The proposed contract weakens oversight and provides police officers with new tools to help them get away with misconduct.

Take Action! Urge Austin’s Mayor and City Council to oppose the new police “Meet and Confer” contract!


Click here to get more information and to take action:
http://www.aclu.org/PolicePractices/PolicePractices.cfm?ID=15258&c=114

Big shock there. http://www.statesman.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/news_0416248473eab1a01020.html

WTF is this? "The contract also allows officers accused of misconduct to review, at least 48 hours before questioning by internal affairs investigators, complaints from accusers as well as photographs or videos used to support the cases. The measure significantly changes internal affairs investigation procedures and could expose victims to retaliation, civil libertarians have said. A provision that required officers who retaliate against witnesses be fired also was changed in the agreement, allowing them to be suspended or terminated."

Of course that doesn't mean they won't. Same article mentioned they were likely to vote for it. Still we need to show council they are wrong in bowing down to the police union. Who is in charge here?

Also note that in today's rag paper the letters to the editor where overwhelming criticizing the crooked APD for the SxSW band incident, where Grammy award winning band members of Ozomatli were arrested for (Gasp) an unauthorized conga line.

Somewhere in the past couple of days, there was a comment from some of the band members where they were shocked that so many Austinites were apologizing for the behavior of APD. They said something to the effect "we would never try to apologize for the behavior of the LAPD". Seems we have reached the level of world class jack booted police thugs. Sigh.

Fire Stan Knee Now!

Sonia

Stan Knee is the problem! People from out of town were freaked out that Austin has such problems with the police. I don't think the majority of them are evil, just REALLY poorly trained.