Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo Returning to Oversee City Police Department

Austin, TX - In a move aimed at strengthening the relationship between the City and its police force, former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is set to return to Austin in a new role overseeing and advising the police department. Multiple sources have confirmed this development, stating that Acevedo will be hired as the interim city manager in charge of the Austin Police Department (APD).

Currently, there is an existing assistant city manager position that oversees all aspects of public safety. However, Acevedo's new role will be specifically focused on the police department, as stated by law enforcement sources. The decision to create this position was outlined in a City memo from Interim City Manager Jesús Garza to the mayor and city council members.

Garza highlighted the importance of having a dedicated City Management-level resource solely focused on APD, stating, "It is essential to have a City Management-level resource identified who is dedicated solely to APD. To that end, I am adding an Interim Assistant City Manager position who will report directly to me. I am pleased to announce that former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, known to many here in the City as well as the community from his tenure as Police Chief for nearly 10 years, will be serving in this position."

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his support for Acevedo's hiring and emphasized the positive impact it could have on the department and its relationship with the community. "I favor additional support for our police officers and the Austin Police Department. Art Acevedo brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges facing APD. I'm hopeful he'll be able to provide needed support for the department and help us to strengthen the relationship between City Hall and APD as well as with the community," Mayor Watson said.

Prior to this appointment, Acevedo served as the interim police chief for the Aurora Police Department in Colorado. However, Acevedo made the decision to leave the department and return to Texas to be closer to his family. Notably, Acevedo has a long history with the Austin Police Department, having led the force for almost a decade before departing to oversee the Houston Police Department. Following his time in Houston, Acevedo served in Miami before being named to the role with the Aurora Police Department in December 2022.

Acevedo's last day with the Aurora PD is set to be January 22. In a statement released by the Aurora PD, Acevedo expressed his gratitude and honored the progress that had been made during his tenure, stating, "This was a difficult decision to make. I am grateful for the unwavering dedication of the exceptional men and women of the Aurora Police Department. Serving as Chief of Police alongside the current leadership team has been an honor. Together, we have achieved significant progress in this remarkable, diverse, and welcoming community. I carry with me immense pride in the positive impact we have had. Aurora will forever remain a part of me."

With Acevedo's return to Austin, the City hopes to benefit from his extensive experience and leadership, with a specific focus on further strengthening the bond between the police force, City Hall, and the local community.