Garza responds to questions about forgoing national search for police oversight director

Interim City Manager Jesús Garza defended his decision to forgo a national search when appointing a new director of the Office of Police Oversight after concerns were raised by several Austin City Council members.

In a memo sent to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and members of the Austin City Council on Oct. 4, that was made public Oct. 10, Garza said, "Had I moved forward with a national search, we would be waiting until next year before being able to name a permanent lead for the Office – a delay that would simply add to the already perceived delay of moving forward with the voters’ will via Prop A."

Grumet: What about that national search for police oversight director? Austin scrapped it.

Garza said in a memo in May the city would conduct a "thorough national search" for the new director after Deven Desai, the previous interim director of the office, resigned. Gail McCant, the interim director appointed after Desai resigned, was made the permanent director in September.

"I recognize that the announcement came as a surprise to you and for that, I apologize," Garza wrote in his memo defending the decision. "It was not my intent to catch you off guard with this very important appointment. However, I stand firm in my reasoning for moving forward and hope that you all also recognize the need to bring that stability to the OPO.

"With that sense of urgency in mind and based on what I’ve seen during McCant’s performance with the OPO, I know that she is someone very familiar with our community who understands the challenges we have been facing with implementing Prop A," Garza wrote.

Following the initial appointment, seven Austin City Council members — Zohaib “Zo”Qadri, José “Chito” Vela, José Velasquez, Vanessa Fuentes, Ryan Alter, Alison Alter and Paige Ellis — called on Garza to explain why he didn't go through with the national search.

In response to Garza's Oct. 4 memo, Ryan Alter said, "I think it provided insight into why the decision was made and, really, how the decision was made.

"As the manager mentioned in the memo, that had we done a national search, it would have taken some time, we would have then had another new director and I don't think we can deliver on Prop A if we keep shuffling directors constantly," Ryan Alter said.

Fuentes addressed the appointment in a statement to the American-Statesman on Tuesday, saying, "Community input should never be sidelined, and must always be top-of-mind for critical appointments such as the Director of the Office of Police Oversight. Interim City Manager Garza’s backtracking on the national search process in order to make this appointment is a clear misstep that erodes the public’s trust in the City."

Alison Alter, Paige Ellis, Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, José “Chito” Vela and José Velasquez could not immediately be reached for comment after Garza's memo was made public on Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin interim city manager defends decision police oversight appointee