Mixed reactions to Art Acevedo's new role as Austin's assistant city manager. Here's why

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reactions from city and county leaders.

News of Art Acevedo, a former police chief in Austin, Houston and Miami, taking a newly created interim assistant city manager position in Austin was met with mixed reactions from members of the Austin City Council and community activists.

Acevedo, who was hand-picked for the role by interim City Manager Jesús Garza, will provide guidance to the department as it works through issues such as staffing, community-driven reforms and possibly returning to the negotiating table with the police union after years without a labor agreement.

More: Art Acevedo taking new $271,000 Austin City Hall position overseeing police

Here's how council members and community members have reacted.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson

Watson in a statement said he favors additional support for the department and its officers.

"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.”

District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison

Harper-Madison provided a one-word written statement about Acevedo's appointment.

"No."

District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes

Fuentes in a post on X, formerly Twitter, said she was surprised to learn of Acevedo’s appointment.

“I hope Acevedo understands our community’s commitment to robust police oversight, accountability, and transparency."

District 3 Council Member José Velásquez

Velásquez did not return requests for comment, nor post on X before the story first published Friday. Later, he posted on X, saying he was surprised by the hiring.

"I've spent the afternoon in conversation with colleagues & constituents, & I share my community's concerns. Austin deserves the highest level of integrity & service from its City leaders & we have a duty to continue to pursue that standard."

District 4 Council Member José “Chito” Vela

Vela, in a post on X, said he cannot support the hiring of Acevedo.

"There are too many red flags from his previous tenures as police chief, both here and in the other cities he's served," Vela said.

District 5 Council Member Ryan Alter

Alter in a statement said he was very surprised by the news and shares "many of the concerns expressed throughout the community."

"I want to do everything I can to make our police department the best in the nation, and I am still trying to understand how this hire at this time does that."

District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly

Kelly told the Statesman she was initially surprised to learn of the appointment, but is excited to see Acevedo in the role.

"I'm very much looking forward to his skills, knowledge, abilities and experience to help get APD back to where it needs to be."

District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool

Pool said in a statement a major goal for her this year is reaching a four-year police contract.

"I support the addition of Art Acevedo to the City Manager's leadership team to help guide this important effort."

District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis

Ellis, in a post on X, said she was "shocked by this decision, as Acevedo oversaw a department that caused rape kits to go untested for years and entrapped protestors, among other issues."

"I told Jesus Garza this is a bad call, and I guarantee that if it had come before council it would have a different outcome."

District 9 Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri

Qadri in a statement said, since Acevedo left Austin in 2016, "voices in Austin pushed not just for more efficient responses with public safety – but for police oversight, accountability, and transparency."

"Despite city council not being part of the hiring process, I remain committed to working with Mr. Acevedo as we work towards a long-term APD contract that takes the voter's voices, and concerns, into account. My office has already received calls demanding assurances that problems like untested rape kits wont continue in his new role back in Austin, not just to assuage Council - but concerned Austinites."

District 10 Council Member Alison Alter

Alter said in a statement that today's announcement came as a shock and fears that it "erodes years of work to rebuild trust and to keep our community safe."

"I met with survivors and advocates today and this announcement is retraumatizing to many, especially pending the upcoming planned public apology to survivors as we mark the two-year anniversary of the settlement of the class action lawsuits by those whose cases were mishandled under Acevedo’s watch."

Travis County DA José Garza

Garza, in a Saturday statement on the appointment, said his return to the city "is a step backward for survivors of sexual assault."

"Over five years ago, survivors of sexual assault were forced to sue Police Chief Art Acevedo because he failed to adequately investigate the crimes committed against them and countless other victims of sexual violence. On his watch, a backlog of untested rape kits grew, and a culture of disrespect for survivors of sexual assault festered. As a result, too many survivors were re-victimized and traumatized by the system that was supposed to protect them.

"His appointment represents a stunning disregard for their pain and our community's values. Even if Art Acevedo is coming back, we are never going back."

Michael Bullock, president of the Austin Police Association

Bullock, who is leading the negotiations on getting a long-term police contract, said he's "here to work with anyone who is willing to work with us."

"There is no doubt that Art Acevedo has a checkered past, and mixed reactions within our department, but this is a new role and an opportunity for him to show us that this is not like when he was last year," Bullock said.

Chris Harris, policy director for the advocacy organization Equity Action

While Acevedo made headlines for marching with protesters during the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, Harris said, “his record of actually holding folks accountable is also poor.”

“It’s a ridiculous move that’s a slap in the face to sexual assault survivors who suffered additional harm for his really poor …  and seemingly intentionally dismissive management towards the issue of sexual assault,” Harris said. “The fact that it was done without any public process and is being just announced this community without any forewarning only adds to that slap.”

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How Austin council reacted to Art Acevedo's assistant city manager job