Art Acevedo Appointed as Interim Assistant City Manager in Austin

Art Acevedo, former police chief of Austin, Houston, and Miami, has been appointed as an interim assistant city manager in Austin, overseeing the Austin Police Department.
Acevedo will act as a liaison between the Austin Police Department and interim City Manager Jesús Garza, providing guidance on issues such as staffing, community-driven reforms, and potential negotiations with the police union.
The appointment was made by Garza without community input or public process, a decision that has been met with surprise and criticism from some city council members.
Acevedo's tenure as Austin’s police chief from 2007 to 2016 was marked by controversial police shootings, calls for greater accountability, and the unraveling of Austin's crime lab.
Acevedo is expected to start his new role by the end of January, earning a salary of $271,000 per year.