AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Inside Austin City Council chambers on Monday, the Office of Police Oversight (OPO) randomly selected 11 positions from a pool of 31 applicants to serve on the revamped Community Police Review Commission.
"They can oversee pretty much anything the Austin Police Department does, policies, practices, complaints against officers," said Sara Peralta, the communications director for the OPO. "They can look at materials related to a critical incident and they can also see the office of police oversight itself."
This is a new system for selecting these commissioners. Previously, Peralta said, it would be more like a job interview, and APD would play a bigger role in choosing the people who served on it.
The new selection process was born from the May 2023 ballot box, where voters pushed through the Austin Police Oversight Act. Choosing the commission this way was one of the provisions.
Peralta explained the scope of influence these individuals have.
"They provide recommendations," she said. "They oversee and have the authority to ask for briefings and oversee OPO and APD, but you know, their authority is related to recommendations."
Commissioners provide those recommendations to departments and/or city council committees.
DeMarris Jackson's name was the first one called Monday afternoon.
"I'm excited about this," he said. "I've been looking forward to it for some time."
Jackson said he's been a part of the Austin community for more than 30 years, formerly doing contract work for the Department of Defense, and currently working as an educator. He told KXAN he looks forward to bringing insight from his experience with law enforcement to this role.
"I know there needs to be accountability," he said. "There's good officers and there's bad. We need to make sure they're getting the proper training, everything they need before going out. I want to help make sure that's what they're doing."
The next steps include the OPO determining the 20 hours of training materials the new commissioners must complete within 90 days. Peralta said the new commission's first meetings should begin next year.
Michael Bullock, the president of the Austin Police Association, sent KXAN the following statement in regards to Monday's selection process.
Our hope is that we can turn the page from previous contentious relationships. Officers are not afraid of accountability, we just ask for a fair system. One that collaborates with us and takes the perspective of officers, who are asked to do an incredibly difficult job, into account. We need to be creating a positive environment that encourages people to apply and come to Austin, not inject more divisive politics.
Michael Bullock, Austin Police Association President
