APD Chief Art Acevedo Accepts Job as Houston Police Chief

KUT 90.5 | By KUT Staff

Published November 17, 2016 at 9:25 AM CST

Police Chief Art Acevedo at an APD cadet graduation ceremony in July 2016.

Chief Art Acevedo is ending his nine and a half year tenure as the head of the Austin Police Department. Acevedo is going to lead the Houston Police Department, according to a statement from Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

Acevedo鈥檚 time in Austin has been marked by increased engagement and and an increase in disciplinary action taken against officers. But it wasn鈥檛 without controversy. Acevedo made national news for to an APD jaywalking arrest in 2014 and with the head of the police union, Ken Cassaday 鈥� most recently after after the shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old David Joseph.

Acevedo arrived in Austin in 2007, after his predecessor Stan Knee left the department in 2006.

This isn't the first time Acevedo's been courted by other departments. Just last year he was offered a job to head up San Antonio's department. In 2010, he was being eyed to lead the Dallas Police Department.

At a press conference today with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Acevedo said he believes 鈥渢he timing is right鈥� for him to make the move, but that he鈥檚 eager to join the Houston Police Department.

鈥淚 really look forward to the challenge of working in a city, meeting with these elected officials, where they get the big picture and where they think big,鈥� he said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 get ready to move, because HPD, here in the City of Houston, you鈥檙e going to see some great things. And, so, I look forward to the challenge and I really want to thank you for the opportunity and the trust.鈥�

In his statement earlier this morning, Austin Mayor Steve Adler praised Acevedo鈥檚 ability as a 鈥渨orld-class鈥� police chief:

Losing Art Acevedo is a huge deal, and replacing him will be a daunting task in part because he gave so much of himself to his job and his community. But Austin is a safe city with a strong police force, and we鈥檒l have talented applicants to take his place. We鈥檒l shortly have a new city manager and a new police chief, and this gives Austin a unique opportunity to enter a new era in our history.

Former Travis County sheriff and current Austin Police Monitor Margot Frasier also lamented Acevedo's move to Houston.

Austin is losing a good chief. Chief Acevedo and I have enjoyed a good relationship even though we have disagreed at times," Frasier said in a statement. "The Austin Police Department is more transparent and accountable due to his service. I wish him well."

Civil rights activist Chas Moore with the Austin Justice Coalition says he was disappointed by the news Acevedo was leaving. earlier this year after the shooting of David Joseph earlier this year, even appearing with him at a press conference announcing an expedited investigation into the shooting,

鈥淭he fact that he can willingly take criticism from the community 鈥� but, at the same token, sit down with community members and work toward a better policing model 鈥� I think that鈥檚 pretty remarkable,鈥� Moore said.

Austin鈥檚 interim city manager Elaine Hart says an interim police chief could be named as soon as tomorrow, and that the city is looking internally at leaders within the Austin Police Department. Replacing the last police chief took the City of Austin about a year.

This story has been updated throughout.