Category Archives: Events

On December 13, 2013, Chief Acevedo administered the oath of office to the graduates of APD Cadet Class 125, thereby increasing the strength of the force which is sworn to safeguard lives and property, protect the innocent, and serve the community.  After eight months of intensive training, the cadets began their law enforcement careers.  Austin Mayor Leffingwell and Councilman Martinez addressed the cadets, their families, and others in attendance at the graduation ceremony held in Northwest Austin.  In his remarks, the Mayor extended special congratulations to one cadet, Monika McCoy, who is the daughter of former APD Officer McCoy who ended the deaths and injuries caused by the ‘Tower Sniper’ Charles Whitman in August of 1966 by climbing the UT Tower with a fellow officer, and killing Whitman, thereby stopping the 90 minutes of terror in Austin.

During the ceremony, the large crowd applauded as each cadet had their new badge pinned on their uniform, after which the oath was administered to the group.  Chief Acevedo welcomed them to the Department and reminded them that their badge and uniform were symbols of their profession and  should be worn with pride and humility.  After the ceremony, the new officers enjoyed ‘photo ops’ with their families and everyone enjoyed refreshments provided by the Austin Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association.

Photos from the graduation can be viewed on our photos page.

Amigos En Azul, Austin Police Department’s Hispanic community outreach program, is preparing for their annual event ‘Shop with a Cop,’ which provides about 50 local Hispanic elementary school students the opportunity to go Christmas shopping with an Austin Police Officer using funds provided by the organization. The students are selected by their schools based on need. The ‘Shop with a Cop’ program, along with others from the organization, have provided an excellent example of minority outreach by APD, bridging the gap to a population that is underserved. When asked about Amigos’ impact on the community, Senior Police Officer Luis Delgado III, Amigos’ President and 19 year member, had this to say:

The noticeable reaction from the community comes from various organizations and community leaders who have taken notice of our endeavors. So much so, that when the State Department questioned community leaders about which organizations were making a positive impact on the Hispanic community, our organization was consistently mentioned.

Amigos En Azul, or Friends in Blue, was founded in 1982 and has grown to include approximately 455 members, mostly Austin Police Officers. In addition to the Shop with a Cop program, Amigos En Azul provides scholarships to local high school students, encourages the consideration of Law Enforcement careers, and participates in numerous APD community outreach programs. Amigos En Azul has provided over $60,000 in scholarships to Hispanic students since the program began. Amigos’ funds are primarily provided by membership dues, the organization’s annual golf tournament, and support from Target, as well as local businesses.

I would like to close by saying that this is a personal endeavor taken up by the board, on their own personal time. We manage, coordinate, execute all our events on our off time. We do this after working our 40 hours in our assignments. But what I have found is that our active board members work not for the accolades or recognition, but to truly make a difference within our community.

       –  Senior Police Officer Luis Delgado III

While SPO Delgado and the rest of the Amigos En Azul board do not work for recognition, their efforts merit a great deal of respect and appreciation from the citizens of Austin.

This year’s date for Shop with a Cop is December 19^th, 2013.

For more information on Amigos En Azul, please visit the Austin Police Department’s Amigos En Azul web page, located here.

Always thought of as a job for men, more and more women are choosing police work. The Austin Police Department currently has 171 female officers and is looking for more women to join the ranks. To encourage more female applicants, APD is hosting a Women in Law Enforcement recruiting event onSaturday, October 19, 2013.

Topics include application and training requirements, balancing home and work life, and career paths and promotion opportunities. APD Recruiting staff will be on hand to speak with interested applicants. Speakers include APD Assistant Chief Jessica Robledo, who started with APD in 1988 and rose through the ranks to her current role, in which she oversees the Special Operations (SWAT and Bomb Squad), Specialized Patrol and Special Events, Highway Enforcement, Communications, and Victims’ Services Divisions.

“Women bring their own uniqueness and style to a male-dominated profession,” Robledo said. “I would tell any woman interested in becoming a law enforcement officer to not let fear of the unknown paralyze you from achieving your dreams.”

Women in Law Enforcement Recruiting Event: Are you APD Strong?
Saturday, October 19, 2013
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cornerstone Church, 1101 Reinli, Austin, TX

APD Recruiting Lieutenant Gerardo Gonzalez said that having women on the force is essential. “APD understands the value women bring to law enforcement and we are looking for strong, committed, women to join our team and help us remain the most professional law enforcement agency in the nation.”

Austin is a fast-growing, diverse community and APD offers a competitive benefits package including health and life insurance, vacation and sick time, retirement and many career opportunities. To learn about how to be APD Strong, visit apdrecruiting.org, email recruiting@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-4211.

October 1^st, 2013 marks the 30^th anniversary of National Night Out!

All Austin residents are invited and encouraged to participate with their neighborhoods in this national event! There are two parts to the event:

First, there is free a Kick-Off Party from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. at Barton Creek Square Mall, in the North Downtown Overlook Parking Lot. There will be food, games, crime prevention tips, and drawings for school supplies. All are invited to participate!

From 7 P.M. to 9 P.M., events such as cookouts, block parties and neighborhood walks will occur simultaneously throughout the City of Austin and nationwide. Citizens are asked to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors and spend the evening outside with their neighbors, City Council Members, police officers, firefighters, EMS paramedics and Code Compliance.

National Night Out is designed to:

• · Promote crime and drug prevention awareness.
• · Generate support and participation in crime prevention efforts.
• · Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community relations.
• · Get involved in your neighborhood community.
• · Let criminals know that neighborhoods are organized and residents are fighting back.

If you would like for you neighborhood to participate, neighborhood applications are due September 13, 2013 at 5 P.M. Applications can be found here or can be e-mailed, faxed or sent in the mail upon request by calling 512-974-4900. Visit APD’s main site listing for more information.

APD and Austin Channel 6 are bringing the experience of the Austin Police Department Cadet Academy to the public in an 9-episode miniseries about the intense trainings cadets must endure in order to become officers with APD.

Previous episodes are also available on YouTube:

• Episode 1
• Episode 2
• Episode 3
• Episode 4
• Episode 5
• Episode 6
• Episode 7
• Episode 8
• Episode 9

“The Austin Police Department is extremely honored to be showcasing the world class training our men and women must go through during cadet training. We hope this series will provide an opportunity for people to see the comprehensive training provided at APD and we hope that this will encourage residents to consider the Austin Police Department as a future place to work.”

– APD Chief Art Acevedo