What's happening
City Manager T.C. Broadnax's selection of Davis on Aug. 2 wraps up a months-long search for the city's next top cop that resulted in two finalists being named from a pool of more than three dozen candidates. Davis was chosen over Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffery B. Norman.
“Collaboration and trust are the foundation of my approach to public safety,” Davis said in a statement. “I am honored to be selected as Austin’s chief of police, and I can’t wait to begin building relationships with our officers, city leaders and community members so we can work together to ensure Austin is a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”
Next, City Council members will vote to confirm Davis' appointment on Aug. 6.
The context
Broadnax had said installing a permanent chief was among his top priorities after he arrived at City Hall this spring as part of his overall approach to "stabilize" APD with new leadership and a new labor contract. His decision came after multiple rounds of interviews, community panels, meetings with local media, and a public meet and greet in late July.
In a statement, he thanked the community for the input gathered during the selection process and credited Davis' years of service in Cincinnati leading up to her potential appointment in Austin.
“I appreciate the invaluable feedback I’ve received, which has helped inform my decision," Broadnax said. "I have elected to move Chief Davis forward for confirmation by the City Council as she has a stellar record in her extensive career in law enforcement, and I am confident that she will earn the trust and confidence of our Austin police officers and our community.”
If approved by council, Davis will be the second woman to serve as Austin's permanent police chief. She'll succeed interim Police Chief Robin Henderson, who was named to lead APD last summer.
Davis would also be Austin's first new chief in years to come from outside APD. In her July media availability, she said she believes her outsider status will be a benefit in assessing APD leadership and operations from the jump.
"I think when you’re able to do that from not having those relationships or opinions formed, right, there’s often times that someone within an agency will make a mistake and, man, we don’t let them forget it. We don’t allow people to grow," Davis said. "This is an opportunity for someone from the outside to come in and do just that. Look at the overall staff, and how do we bolster what we have and what we can do, and get that community engagement up and move forward.”
What they're saying
In her application for the APD chief position, Davis highlighted her professional policing record that began as a Cincinnati police recruit in 1992.
She stressed her commitment to community policing concepts through "compassion and collaboration" with constituents. She also said she backs crime reduction strategies guided by data while also "increasing police legitimacy," and said she's adopted restorative justice and harm reduction practices based on recent federal guidelines for law enforcement.
"Being transparent and approachable, having integrity in all I do, and being honest and collaborative are foundations in my career and life. I am also a progressive, forward thinker who isn’t afraid to push the status quo when it comes to innovative ideas and strategies that serve the community," Davis wrote in her cover letter.
