ACCESS News: Austin Chief of Police, Art Acevedo

DO YOU TRUST THE GOVERNMENT?
DO YOU TRUST THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEAR A BADGE
AND ARE SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE?
HAVE YOU HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT?
IF YOU ARE A POLICE OFFICER,
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO FEEL THE PUBLIC MAY NOT TRUST YOU?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOOD COPS GO BAD?
TODAY ON ACCESS NEWS,
WE'LL BE ASKING THE CHIEF OF POLICE,
CHIEF ART ACEVEDO THOSE QUESTIONS AND MORE.
YOU'RE WATCHING ACCESS NEWS,
HANDS ON NEWS.
ACCESS NEWS IS PLEASED TO WELCOME ART ACEVEDO,
THE CHIEF OF POLICE HERE IN AUSTIN.
HE BECAME CHIEF OF POLICE IN 2007,
AND IS THE FIRST HISPANIC TO LEAD THE POLICE FORCE.
HE HAS MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE,
AND HE'S BEEN CALLED THE "CHANGE AGENT"
TO RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST AND ELIMINATE POLICE CORRUPTION.
IN OTHER WORDS HE TRIES TO MAKE THE THIN BLUE LINE THINNER.
WELCOME TO ACCESS NEWS, CHIEF.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I KNOW RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THE FIRES
HAPPENING IN BASTROP, IT'S JUST REALLY AN AWFUL SITUATION.
I KNOW 1,500 HOMES HAVE BEEN LOST
AND THOUSANDS OF ACRES HAVE BEEN BURNED.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP PREVENT FUTURE FIRES LIKE THIS?
WELL, FIRST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY
TO REALIZE YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR OWN HOME
BY BUILDING A NATURAL FIRE WALL AROUND IT,
AND THAT IS REMOVE DRY BRUSH AWAY FROM YOUR HOME,
AT LEAST 20 FEET-- 25 FEET.
IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GRASS, TRY TO WATER IT.
PEOPLE FORGET YOU CAN STILL WATER BY HAND
EVEN WITH THE WATER RESTRICTIONS.
AND IF YOU SEE DEAD THINGS, REMOVE IT
BECAUSE ALL THAT IS, IS FUEL FOR THE FIRE.
AND THE HOMES THAT HAVE SURVIVED IN BASTROP,
YOU'LL SEE EVERYTHING AROUND THEM BURNT DOWN
BUT THE PEOPLE THAT DID THOSE THINGS,
THEIR HOMES SURVIVED, MIRACULOUSLY.
SO THERE ARE SOME HOMES THAT MADE IT THROUGH THE FIRE
BECAUSE THEY WERE WATERING THEIR YARD
AND REMOVING THE BRUSH?
ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.
AND IN OTHER STATES, IT'S-- YOU'RE REQUIRED BY LAW
TO REMOVE BRUSH, CLEAR BRUSH
AND TO CREATE THAT NATURAL FIRE BREAK
IN CASE OF BRUSH FIRES.
IN THIS CASE IT WASN'T A BRUSH FIRE, IT'S A FIRESTORM.
IT WAS JUST-- IT WAS PRETTY BAD.
I WAS OUT THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND IT WAS VERY SAD TO SEE.
I'M REALLY SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
WE'RE HOPING THAT EVERYONE RECOVERS QUICKLY.
ALSO I WANT TO ASK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRUST
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHY DO WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT THE PUBLIC NOT TRUSTING
THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS?
WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
PEOPLE DON'T TRUST GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRUST OF GOVERNMENT,
IT IS AN ALL-TIME HISTORICAL LOW,
AND I THINK SOME OF IT IS WELL DESERVED.
BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IN YOUR INTRO
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO THIN THE THIN BLUE LINE FURTHER.
WELL, WHAT I WANT TO DO IS STRENGTHEN
BY HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BY HAVING HIGH STANDARDS,
BY BEING TRANSPARENT,
AND BY ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY LIKE WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S THAT WHERE YOU HELP BUILD BRIDGES
AND OVERCOME THE MISTRUST.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND LIKE I SAID IN THE INTRO, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE CALL YOU A CHANGE AGENT.
YEAH.
AND YOU LEAD CHANGE.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE LEAD UP TO THAT NAME?
I THINK THAT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO--
WHEN I SEE A PROBLEM, I FIX IT.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY
BECAUSE A PROBLEM AS THIS BIG YOU KNOW WILL CONTINUE TO GROW
IF YOU DON'T ADDRESS IT QUICKLY, HONESTLY AND VERY AGGRESSIVELY.
AND SO-- NOW, IT'S, YOU KNOW, LIFE IS A ABOUT MAKING
POSITIVE CHANGE AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO
IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE THIN BLUE LINE HERE AUSTIN
HAS BECOME THINNER?
NO, I THINK THAT IT'S BECOME BETTER.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2007
BEFORE THIS CURRENT EXECUTIVE TEAM--
LEADERSHIP TEAM CAME TOGETHER, AND YOU LOOK AT IT TODAY,
IT'S TOTALLY A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT ANNA SABANA, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION MANAGER,
WHO'S SITTING HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH US TODAY,
WHO HAS HELPED US REALLY TRANSFORM THE DEPARTMENT
FROM ONE THAT WAS VERY CLOSED TO ONE THAT'S VERY OPEN.
I MEAN, IF WE CAN SHARE INFORMATION, WE DO.
WE'RE NOT THE CIA, WE DON'T HIDE THINGS
AND SO WE'VE BECOME VERY TRANSPARENT,
I THINK ITS REALLY MADE THE DIFFERENCE.
I THINK VERY OFTEN THAT THE PUBLIC
KIND OF CLUMPS ALL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,
CIA, FBI, ALL THAT INTO ONE GROUP,
AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THAT PROBABLY HAPPENS.
THE PUBLIC DISTRUST THAT DOES OCCUR,
DOES THAT MAKE YOUR JOB MORE DIFFICULT?
AND WHAT WOULD THAT FEEL LIKE?
WELL, I WILL SAY THIS,
THAT IF WITHOUT PUBLIC TRUST, WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS.
AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT
TRANSPARENCY BREEDS TRUST,
TRUST BREEDS COOPERATION,
AND COOPERATION BREEDS SAFETY
IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO REALLY ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER.
THERE ARE GONNA BE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES BUT I THINK WE CAN AGREE
OR DISAGREE IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER SOMETIMES.
THAT MAKES ME THINK OF ONE SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IN 2009,
THAT WAS JUNE OF 2009.
A WOMAN NAMED ESTER VALDEZ, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU REMEMBER.
BUT IT WAS A DEAF WOMAN AND SHE WAS WALKING
ALONG THE STREET, AND THE POLICE OFFICER,
OFFICER WILLIS, YELLED FOR HER TO STOP WALKING
BUT OBVIOUSLY SHE DIDN'T HEAR OFFICER WILLIS,
AND SO THE RESULT ENDED UP BEING THAT WAS ARRESTED
FOR RESISTING ARREST.
SO, WHAT HAS YOUR DEPARTMENT DONE SINCE THEN
TO PREVENT THAT KIND OF MISUNDERSTANDING
'CAUSE AUSTIN HAS SUCH A LARGE DEAF COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED THE IMMERSION PROGRAM,
WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT REQUIRES OUR CADETS AND OUR OFFICERS
TO GO INTO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
COMMUNITIES WITH COLOR, THE DEAF COMMUNITY,
PEOPLE WITH OTHER PHYSICAL HANDICAPS SO THEY CAN LEARN
WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE,
AND THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO BETTER SERVE THAT COMMUNITY.
BUT EVEN ON THAT INSTANCE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
EVEN FOR MEMBERS OF THE DEAF COMMUNITY TO KNOW
THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR
BUT THE OFFER DOESN'T,
AND IF AN OFFICER PUTS HANDS ON YOU TO TELL YOU TO STOP,
DON'T START DOING THIS AND LOOKING LIKE YOU'RE RESISTING
BECAUSE IN HIS MIND, IT APPEARS YOU'RE RESISTING.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE--
SO WHAT DO WE DO INSTEAD?
I WOULD-- IF THE OFFICER PUTS THEIR HANDS ON YOU,
JUST COOPERATE, DON'T PULL AWAY
UNTIL THINGS CALM DOWN.
AND THEN YOU CAN VERY QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH SIGN LANGUAGE
OR THROUGH MANNERISMS "THAT I DON'T HEAR."
IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO DO... TO STAY CALM AND YOU KNOW. RIGHT.
IT IS BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO-- IT'S A TWO-WAY--
IT'S TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, FROM THE OFFICER'S MIND,
YOU DON'T HAVE A SIGN ON YOU THAT SAYS,
YOU KNOW "I DON'T HEAR".
SO I THINK SOMETIMES WE DON'T PUT OUR SHOES
IN THE OTHER PERSON'S FEET.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?
SO I WOULD JUST SAY, ONCE THE OFFICER KNOWS,
THEN EVERYTHING WILL CALM DOWN.
SO YOU'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN THE CHALLENGE--
AND WE'RE SMART-- WE CARRY NOTEBOOKS WITH US.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CALL IN TRANSLATORS,
SO JUST BE PATIENT AND JUST REALIZE
THAT THE OFFICER DOESN'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE,
BUT ONCE THEY DO, WE CAN WORK ON THE COMMUNICATION.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
BOTH THE DEAF COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS
UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL OF MISUNDERSTANDING. ABSOLUTELY.
AND IT'S, REALLY, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH
TO MAKE THAT COMMUNICATION EFFECTIVE.
I KNOW THAT MY HUSBAND WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER,
HIS FATHER-- HE WAS GIVEN A CARD AND HE CARRIED ALONG WITH HIM
THAT SAID, "I AM DEAF," AND WHEN HE WAS PULLED OVER,
HE WOULD SHOW THAT CARD.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE THESE DAYS OR NOT
BUT WILL THAT HELP SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO A POLICE OFFICER?
SOME KIND OF CARD READY TO JUST PRESENT?
ABSOLUTELY.
AND I'D NEVER FORGET AS A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER MYSELF,
I WENT TO A CRASH, A CAR CRASH SCENE,
AND THERE WAS TWO GUYS THERE.
THE OTHER PARTY HAD ALREADY LEFT,
AND THE STORY THAT THESE TWO SPEAKING AND HEARING INDIVIDUALS
ARE TELLING ME DIDN'T QUITE ADD UP.
AND THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL,
THE OTHER DRIVER WAS A PERSON THAT COULDN'T SPEAK
AND HAD HEARING ISSUES.
SO CLEARLY WHAT THESE GUYS WERE HOPING
IS THAT I WOULDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO HEAR
HER SIDE OF THE STORY,
AND SO I ACTUALLY SPEND AN EXTRA HOUR AT THE HOSPITAL,
WAITED TILL I GET AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER.
AND ONCE SHE WAS ABLE TO COMMUNICATE
HER SIDE OF THE STORY, IT WAS CLEAR TO ME
THAT THEY TRIED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE,
AND I'M JUST HAPPY THAT WE HAD THE ABILITY
TO CALL IN RESOURCES LIKE THIS YOUNG LADY TO MY RIGHT
TO MAKE SURE WE GOT IT RIGHT.
AND THAT NO INJUSTICE OCCURRED OUT THERE.
SO WE TRY AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE PERFECT BUT I THINK
WHAT WE CAN DO IS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND MOVE AHEAD.
FORGE AHEAD TOGETHER.
YEAH, AND IT'S AN ON-GOING EFFORT REALLY. ABSOLUTELY.
AS YOU KNOW ACCESS NEWS, WE TALK ABOUT
OUR AMERICAN FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND THROUGH A SEGMENT CALLED
"A MORE PERFECT UNION".
AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A FEW MINUTES
TO WATCH DON MILLER AND SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.
WHAT IS THE RULE OF LAW?
THANKS, TAMARA.
HI, I'M DON MILLER.
TODAY, WE COMMUNICATE WITH EMAIL, TELEPHONE,
VIDEOPHONES, TEXTING,
SNAIL MAIL, BLOGS,
AND THE INTERNET.
BUT THE ONLY WAY THE FOUNDERS COULD MEET
TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE AS A GROUP
WAS TO SIT IN A ROOM FACE TO FACE.
THIS WAS NO EASY TASK TO GET THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE 13 COLONIES TOGETHER.
WHEN THEY FINALLY DID GET TOGETHER,
THEY HAD TO WRITE DOWN WHAT THEY WANTED
IN A NEW GOVERNMENT.
THEY MANAGED TO MEET FACE TO FACE IN 1774,
CALLING THEMSELVES THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
WHICH FORMED THE BASIS OF WHAT WAS TO BECOME
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
LET'S WATCH.
ELECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 12 OF THE 13 COLONIES
MET FROM SEPTEMBER 5TH TO OCTOBER 26
HERE AT PHILADELPHIA'S CARPENTER HALL.
THESE REPRESENTATIVES FORMED THE CONGRESS
THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY GOVERN AMERICA FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.
IT WAS 1774,
AND THOUGH THE DELEGATES WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR
AS TO THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS' ULTIMATE PURPOSE,
IN RETROSPECT, THEY INAUGURATED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IN RESPONSE TO THE BOSTON TEA PARTY,
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT ENACTED A SERIES OF PROVOCATIVE LAWS
DUBBED "THE INTOLERABLE ACTS BY THE COLONIES."
THIS LEGISLATION PUNISHED BOSTON
AND REESTABLISHED BRITISH AUTHORITY
OVER THE ENTIRE COLONY.
THE LAST AND MOST INFLAMMATORY ACT
REQUIRED THAT COLONISTS QUARTER BRITISH TROOPS IN THEIR HOMES.
AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS,
PATRICK HENRY, DELEGATE FROM VIRGINIA,
ADDRESSED THE DELEGATES WITH THESE ELECTRIFYING WORDS,
"THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN VIRGINIANS, PENNSYLVANIANS
NEW YORKERS AND NEW ENGLANDERS ARE NO MORE.
I AM NOT A VIRGINIAN, BUT AN AMERICAN."
BY THE TIME CONGRESS ADJOURNED, RESOLUTION WERE PASSED
OPPOSING THE INTOLERABLE ACTS
AND 10 COLONIAL RIGHTS WERE SPELLED OUT
INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY.
WHEN THE DELEGATES TO THE CONGRESS SUCH AS
SAM ADAMS, JOHN ADAMS, AND GEORGE WASHINGTON
LEFT CARPENTER HALL,
THE AMERICAN COLONIES HAD ACTED AS A SINGLE NATION
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
WHILE THESE MEN OF VISION AND TALENT WAITED
FOR THE BRITISH RESPONSE TO THEIR PROCLAMATIONS,
THE FIGHTS HAD ALREADY BEGUN AS TROOPS FROM BOTH SIDES
MOVED FOR ADVANTAGE.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WHEN CONFRONTED
WITH UNFAIR AND UNJUST LAWS?
THE COLONISTS TRIED TO EXPLAIN THEIR FRUSTRATION
TO THE KING OF ENGLAND AND TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE
BUT WERE IGNORED.
THEY TOO HAVE BEEN DEAF TO THE VOICE OF JUSTICE.
THESE WORDS ARE FOUND IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
AND REPRESENT THOSE FRUSTRATIONS
AND THE NECESSITY OF SEPARATING FROM GREAT BRITAIN.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU DISAGREE WITH OUR LAWS?
WHAT CAN WE DO?
SHARE YOUR OPINIONS, JOIN THE DISCUSSION
AT OUR WEBSITE, ACCESSNEWS.US.
".US" FOR UNITED STATES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
FOR ACCESS NEWS, I'M DON MILLER.
WHAT IS THE RULE OF LAW?
EVERYONE MUST FOLLOW THE LAW,
AND THE GOVERNMENT MUST OBEY THE LAW
AND NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.
THANK YOU, DON.
WE'RE HERE CHATTING WITH CHIEF OF POLICE, ART ACEVEDO
ON ACCESS NEWS.
CHIEF, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY.
OH, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, COOPERATING WITH THE POLICE.
RECENTLY, RICK PERRY, OUR GOVERNOR, MENTIONED THAT
HE BELIEVES LOCAL POLICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE
THEIR DISCRETION TO QUESTION PEOPLE
RELATED TO THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS,
WHETHER THEY'RE BEEN PULLED OVER OR WITNESS TO A CRIME.
OPPONENTS FEEL LIKE THAT COULD LEAD TO RACIAL PROFILING,
OR MAYBE MAKE PEOPLE MORE AFRAID
AND NOT COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE.
NOT BE WILLING TO REPORT CRIMES AND SO FORTH.
SO, I'M CURIOUS-- YOU'RE OPINION ON THAT
ABOUT AUSTIN POLICE BEING ABLE TO QUESTION PEOPLE ABOUT
THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
WELL, I THINK MY POSITION AND THE POSITION OF MOST
OF THE POLICE CHIEF OF THE MAJOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS
IN THE COUNTRY IS VERY CLEAR.
I ACTUALLY HAVE WRITTEN EDITORIALS ABOUT IT
OR COMMENTARY, AND TESTIFIED IN THE LEGISLATURE
AGAINST THE CENTURY CITY LAWS.
WE'RE HERE TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
AND WHEN YOU DISCOURAGE PEOPLE THAT ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME
OR WITNESSES TO CRIME FROM COOPERATING FROM THE POLICE,
THAT'S HURTS US ALL.
WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES, WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO BECOME IMMIGRATION AGENTS,
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT
AS THE RESULT OF THE POLICE CHIEF STANDING UP AGAINST
THAT BAD LEGISLATION BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING
BUT POLITICS, NOT GOOD PUBLIC POLICY.
THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KILL THAT LAW.
AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T COME BACK AGAIN
BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES ULTIMATELY HURT PUBLIC SAFETY.
I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT ONE.
I ALSO WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT
THE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT WITH POLICE.
THERE IS AN OFFICE CALLED THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC MONITOR.
POLICE MONITOR. OH, THE POLICE MONITOR.
YES. RIGHT, OPM.
AND THERE'S A CATEGORY OF SEVEN PEOPLE
CALLED THE CITIZEN REVIEW PANEL.
CORRECT.
AND SO THEY'RE ABLE TO GET INVOLVED WITH INVESTIGATIONS
IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS WHEN THERE'S AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENS.
CORRECT.
AND THEY CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESULTS
AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS I KNOW THAT THAT PANEL
CAN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, HOWEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE
SUBPOENA POWER. RIGHT.
SO IS-- DO THEY REALLY HAVE MUCH INFLUENCE
OR DO THEY REALLY HAVE MUCH POWER?
WELL, I MEAN, THEY HAVE A VOICE.
AND THEY HAVE A VOICE THAT--
AND THEY HAVE TWO THINGS:
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE FILES IN TERMS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO--
AND THE ABILITY TO QUESTION THE INVESTIGATORS.
AND I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE, A VOICE TO AS A GROUP
OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WEIGH IN.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE NATHANIEL SANDERS SHOOTING INCIDENT.
NATHANIEL SANDERS WAS SHOT BY OFFICER LEONARDO QUINTANA,
FORMER OFFICER LEONARDO QUINTANA.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS COMMUNITY
TO REMEMBER THAT THE CITIZENS REVIEW PANEL
AND EVEN THE OFFICE OF POLICE MONITOR WEIGHED IN
EVEN AFTER THE KEY POINT REPORT, THAT CONTROVERSIAL REPORT,
AND THEY STILL SAID THAT OFFICER QUINTANA,
WELL, HE USED DEADLY FORCE, HAD DONE SO IN A LAWFUL MANNER.
AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN RECOMMEND THAT I FIRE HIM.
THEY ONLY RECOMMENDED A 90-DAY SUSPENSION,
WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP THAT PERSPECTIVE
BECAUSE SOMEONE WILL HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT HE COMMITTED
A MURDER OR SOMETHING OUT THERE WHICH IS SIMPLY NOT THE TRUTH.
SO I'M WONDERING IF THOSE KINDS OF CONFLICTS
COULD BE BETTER RESOLVED IF YOU GAVE THE PANEL
SUBPOENA POWER?
TO ME THAT WOULD JUST BE DEALING WITH PERCEPTION
INSTEAD OF REALITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY
I'M GONNA MAKE THE DECISION.
WE'RE NOT HIDING ANYTHING.
THEY ALREADY HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE EVIDENCE.
THE POLICE MONITOR IS AT THE ACTUAL SHOOTING SCENE,
SEEING WITH HER OWN EYES,
PARTICIPATING WITH THE POLICE CHIEF.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT
PEOPLE THINK WE HAVE THIS HUGE PROBLEM HERE
WHEN THE REALITY, THE FACTS ARE THAT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
USES DEADLY FORCE MUCH LESS THAN MOST MAJOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
IF YOU'RE FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., I CAN GUARANTEE YOU
THEY SHOOT AT PEOPLE A LOT MORE THAN WE DO.
AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE THAT I'VE FIRED
THREE OFFICERS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE
FOR EXCESSIVE FORCE.
SO I FOLLOW THE LAW,
I FOLLOW POLICY, I FOLLOW PROCEDURES.
THAT'S HOW I DECIDE WHAT TO DO BECAUSE WHEN YOU LEAD,
YOU LEAD THROUGH INTELLECT AND NOT THROUGH EMOTION.
AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET EMOTIONAL
AND THEY DON'T SEE THE FACTS,
THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THE FACTS.
SO THE FACTS ARE THAT WE RARELY USE DEADLY FORCE,
AND THE FACTS ARE THAT I HAVE FIRED THREE OFFICERS
WHEN THEIR FORCE WAS NOT APPROPRIATE.
I CAN IMAGINE THAT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION
FOR YOU TO BE IN.
IT'S HARD TO FACE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES
AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE TRYING TO GAIN THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC.
I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO AS CITIZENS
TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BETTER PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES?
WELL, I THINK, FIRST AND FOREMOST,
YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
YOU HAVE TO BE A NOSY NEIGHBOR.
WHEN YOU SEE A CAR DRIVING AROUND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
THAT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE,
AND YOU SEE PEOPLE LOOKING IN THEIR WINDOWS,
CALL THE POLICE.
CALL US OUT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S LIFE'S ABOUT,
IS HELPING ONE ANOTHER.
SECONDLY, DON'T MAKE YOURSELF AN EASY TARGET.
IF YOU'RE A WOMAN AND YOU ARE GOING INTO A PARKING LOT
TO GET INTO YOUR VEHICLE,
DON'T HAVE YOUR KEYS IN A PURSE AND AT NIGHT
LOOKING FOR YOUR KEYS, BE READY.
HAVE YOUR KEY OUT.
WALK UP, UNLOCK YOUR CAR, GET IN, LOCK THE DOOR,
AND GO ON WITH YOUR BUSINESS.
LOCK YOUR DOORS AT HOME. LOCK YOUR GARAGE.
DON'T LEAVE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPEN.
SO A LOT OF GOOD COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT
GOES A LONG WAY.
OKAY, REALLY ONE THING WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT COMMON SENSE
IS NOT ALWAYS COMMON. YES.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT.
BELIEVE ME, I KNOW.
AND FOR LADIES, ESPECIALLY DOWNTOWN,
EVERYBODY ASKS, DO WE HAVE A SAFE DOWNTOWN?
WE HAVE ONE OF THE SAFEST DOWNTOWNS IN THE COUNTRY.
WHAT WILL LEAVE YOU TO NOT BEING SAFE
IS WHEN YOU GO OUT AND YOU GET DRUNK.
AND, NOW, YOU'RE STUMBLING DOWN THE STREET,
YOU ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO BECOME A VICTIM OF CRIME
WHEN THEY SEE AN EASY TARGET THAN TO SOMEBODY
THAT'S USING GOOD SENSE.
DON'T BE RUNNING A TRAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF A NIGHT,
AT NIGHT BY YOURSELF WITH NO ONE AROUND
BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST GONNA MAKE YOURSELF A TARGET.
IT'S JUST, AGAIN, COMMON SENSE
AND GOOD JUDGMENT GOES A LONG WAY.
THANK YOU, REALLY, I APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS OF ADVICE
AND I HOPE OUR AUDIENCE IS GONNA TAKE YOUR ADVICE TO HEART.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY ON ACCESS NEWS
THANK YOU.
I'VE REALLY ENJOYED MY APPEARANCE
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
AT THEIR WEBSITE, CI.AUSTIN.TX.US/POLICE
AND AT OUR WEBSITE ACCESSNEWS.US
WHERE YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS,
AND SHARE YOUR COMMENTS AND OPINIONS.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK, FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.
ONE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT AMERICA
IS THAT WE, THE PEOPLE, HAVE POWER.
THE MORE WE KNOW THE BETTER DECISIONS WE CAN MAKE.
FOR ACCESS NEWS, I'M TAMARA,
AND THAT'S AUSTIN.
THANKS FOR COMING.
THANK YOU.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: DVORAH BEN MOSHE, KEN HURLEY.
WITH FUNDING FROM THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION
THROUGH THE KNIGHT COMMUNITY INFORMATION CHALLENGE.
SUPPORTED BY: THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.
FOSTERING PHILANTHROPY IN AUSTIN FOR 35 YEARS,
THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NOW AND FOREVER.
CREATED AND WRITTEN BY: DVORAH BEN-MOSHE, KEN HURLEY.
HOSTED BY: TAMARA SUITER-OCUTO.
INTERPRETER FOR TAMARA SUITER-OCUTO:
JENNIFER STOKER.
SEGMENT HOST FOR "A MORE PERFECT UNION:"
DON MILLER.
VOICING FOR DON MILLER: KEN HURLEY.
CREW: PRODUCER, LINDA LITOWSKY.
DIRECTOR/EDITOR, ORLANDO LOPEZ.
3D ANIMATION: DOUG GRAY.
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: KARLA SALDANA.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: BRIAN BLAKE.
ASSISTANT TO THE PRODUCER: SUSAN HARPER.
ORIGINAL MUSIC: AARON JAQUES.
CAMERA: DOUG GRAY, TIM O'NEAL, ROSS WILSEY.
PRODUCTION SOUND MIXER: ROD SIMONSEN.
TELEPROMPTER OPERATOR: BRANDON "TOJ" MORA.
ADDITIONAL CREW. PHOTOGRAPHERS:
EVE GRANICK, DVORAH BEN-MOSHE.
INTERN: BRANDON "TOJ" MORA.
ADDITIONAL INTERPRETERS: JACOB STACEY,
TRACEY HUGULEY, JESSICA GRAVES.
WEBSITE DEVELOPED BY: ELECTRICLEAF, JONATHAN BRADEN.
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY:
CPC, CLOSED CAPTIONING AND SUBTITLE SERVICES.
CIVIC EDUCATION VIDEO SEGMENTS PROVIDED BY:
AMBROSE VIDEO PUBLISHING.
SPECIAL THANKS TO SUSAN MERMIT, LISA WILLIAMS,
MARIBEN RAMSEY, MONICA WILLIAMS, JANICE KLEKAR,
PAULA LANGE, JEFF GARVEY.
CLAIRE BUGEN, BOBBIE GUERRA, RUSSELL HARVARD,
CYNTHIA FOSS, BILL STOTESBERY, KATELYN MACK,
YITZHAK BEN-MOSHE, BOBBIE NORD, KENNETH GLADISH.
HI I'M TAMARA, HOST OF ACCESS NEWS.
JOIN ME AS I TALK WITH RENOWNED SCIENTISTS,
COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, POWERFUL BUSINESS LEADERS,
AND POLITICIANS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
POLICE CHIEF ART ACEVEDO,
HE WORKS TO PROVIDE LAW AND ORDER
THAT PROTECTS OUR COMMUNITY.
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