TexasCHLforum.com

WildBill wrote: The management of any organization can set the tone for the behavior expectations of its members.

Absolutely. Is that what happened here? Art told his officers to demand things that aren't required by law when dealing with the legally licensed CHL holders?

To me, a complaint might clarify the policy here. If the complaint quietly disappears, then likely APD leadership doesn't care. If they address it, maybe spend the time to review the incident, and respond to the OP it would indicate something else.

Without a complaint, we just continue to arm-chair this all day long... Which is part of what a forum is for.

locke_n_load wrote:Austin Police Department is the top paid police force in Austin? Go figure. Haha. Did you mean in Texas or as opposed to DPS/Sheriff's Office in/around Austin?

I mean that their entry salaries and typical salaries for years of tenure are very good comparatively to other city jurisdictions. They seem to be constantly recruiting, but I don't know how competitive it is to get in. I know that starting salary for an officer in my "city" is substantially less than Austin. Maybe that's part of why we have such quality officers locally: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crim ... ed-/ndNGJ/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know one DPS officer indirectly. He's been on the force for a while and I know he pulls in over $100k via overtime and outside work. I'm not trying to compare APD's base salary to his total compensation.

Here's the 2013 APD pay scale. Note that it doesn't account for overtime or any work done off the clock:
https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/defau ... scales.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think good officers should be paid well.. Bad officers shouldn't be paid at all.

TomsTXCHL wrote:

cb1000rider wrote:Guys, don't label an entire police force due to the actions of one - or perhaps a few officers...

Or how about one per week--or so it seems anyway. If I read the San Antonio paper instead of Austin's American-Statesman would I see a similar number of incidents, with the Chief forever trying to explain something one of his officers did?

I dunno if you can compare SA to Austin in terms of gun tolerance, just based on the recently exposed (to me) ordinances that prohibit weapons in general out of San Antonio. Austin has drama, just like all large-ish cities do, but the Statesman will concentrate on jaywalking incidents. I think SA has much more pervasive criminal problems. Austin is also pretty liberal, so we've got those that scream pretty loud... And since it brings in readers, the paper reports it.

My experiences with APD have all been positive. I actually relax if it's Travis county or APD that I have to interact with.. And respectfully, I've never had the experience of the OP, which would certainly cause me some concern.

One county north - Williamson, I've had much more cohersive and negative experiences.

Guys, don't label an entire police force due to the actions of one - or perhaps a few officers.. Check out the prior post of a video of APD in response to open carry downtown with an AR - that was one of the best displays of officer diligence I've seen. That officer didn't take the bait.

APD is very well paid. I believe they're the top paid police force in Austin. I can tell you that they have some great officers and detectives. I also realize that they're a big organization and as such, they'll have some not-so-good ones too.

I think that most of us agree that the LEOs are within bounds on what happened here and we don't like the described way it played out. The only way to get that resolved is to bring it up via a complaint. And unless I'm mistaken, that hasn't been done yet.

Maybe, but again, that recording would probably be reviewed if a complaint was associated with it in a timely manner. They can't keep them forever.
Requesting it serves what purpose?

Keith B wrote: In this case as the officer really didn't do anything illegal I would suggest a letter to the Chief. However, Austin's Chief is not the most pro-gun guy out there, so not sure how much good it will do. But if you don't get satisfaction on the corrective action with the officer then you can go to the council members or the Mayor for the resolution.

He's also the boss of the guys same officers downtown, when confronted with an AR in public decide to let those "demonstrators" carry on. APD is a pretty big organization and obviously reactions vary.

You've got nothing to sue for. You were not arrested. Maybe you were inconvenienced and perhaps embarrassed, but officer actions are well "within bounds". You were unarmed and detained as a possible threat. Had they known you had a CHL, they can do the exact same thing.

I do think there is a policy issue here, but to get it addressed, you need to file a complaint, not talk to an attorney. Don't want to file a complaint, then don't expect it to change.

You can't anticipate the needs of every single officer that might stop you. IMHO, they differ. Some want to see your hands on top of that wheel, others immediately ask "what are you nervous about" if you put your hands on top of the wheel.. The easiest way to get this straight is to file a complaint - it'll at least get reviewed.

Jonestown has fired officers recently who behaved badly... Georgetown recently put one on administrative leave.

Complain soon - likely the recording of that traffic stop is still around and can be reviewed.