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AUSTIN, Texas – Despite some opposition to this appointment, Austin City Council confirmed the selection of Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk to head the Austin Police Department by 9-2 on Thursday.
What you need to know
- Austin City Council approved Joseph Chacon as the new head of the Austin Police Department in a 9-2 vote on September 30th
- After a six month search, Chacon was replaced by Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk on September 22nd. announced for the position
- Chacon, who has been with the department for more than two decades, served as the interim chief after Brian Manley retired
- Support for Chacon is not universal. The Austin NAACP is one of the opponents of his appointment
Chief Joseph Chacon, who served as interim chief for several months after Brian Manley resigned, was scrutinized fairly closely by councilors on Thursday before the vote.
Chacon was the only internal candidate for the job, hitting candidates including the chief of the Wichita Police Department, an assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the deputy chief of the Atlanta Police Department.
Commenting on the council’s endorsement, City Manager Spencer Cronk said, “This was an important decision and I look forward to working with Chief Chacon to build trust and transparency, deliver results and protect Austin for all.” pic.twitter.com/EGdT1tb8jh
– City of Austin (@austintexasgov) October 1, 2021
READ: The Biography of Chief Joseph Chacon
Opponents of Chacon’s appointment include the Austin NAACP, who said in an interview with Axios that it likely won’t bring enough changes to the department.
“You want business as usual. That’s what they always wanted in Austin, Texas, ”NAACP’s Nelson Linder told Axios. “You promise people to change, but you don’t.”
Chacon has been the interim police chief since former Police Chief Brian Manley retired.
Chacon, who served as the assistant chief in Austin for nearly five years before being named interim chief, said he was “extremely excited and humble” by the opportunity.
Manley, who was elected head of the department in 2018, has been the focus of ongoing criticism after a man driving away from officials and controversial use of force by officials was fatally shot in April 2020 during protests against the death of George Floyd in April 2020 died in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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