AUSTIN, Texas — After heavy negotiations that lasted the better part of a year between the City of Austin and the Austin Police Association (APA), City Manager Spencer Cronk announced the two have agreed to a four-year labor contract. Austin City Council just has to sign off on the agreement for it to be set in stone.

The contract outlines objectives for a stable environment for police officers, rigorous recruitment and retention efforts and a forward-thinking police oversight provision.

“Keeping our city safe is the most important priority for local governments. And having a strong, well-staffed police department is critical in achieving that goal,” Cronk said. “We already have a best-in-class police department and I want to thank all the men and women who serve every day for our community.  

Cronk is almost certain the goals laid out in the contract will become a standard across Texas and the nation.

Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon is just as enthused to have come to agreeable terms with the city over the contract. He’s confident the agreement will be of great impact to the department and the city in many beneficial ways.

“We find ourselves with an agreement that, once approved, will both provide significant enhancements to the pay and benefits of the police officers as well as powerful improvements to the police department operations,” Chacon said. “Officer retention is an issue for every police department right now, and this agreement will lock in officer rights and benefits for the next four years, providing the stability and assurance that officers require to be able to effectively do their jobs, and providing the greatest opportunity for the City of Austin to not only retain the high-quality officers it has but also to recruit the best and brightest talent for the future.” 

Across the board, officers will incur a 14% pay increase during the life of the contract, totaling $64.7 million. In order to better recruitment and retention, “we have utilized a creative approach that puts our money where our mouth is and gives further across-the-board increases of 1.5% to officers each year respectively if the City is not able to meet its hiring goals,” said Austin Interim Labor Relations Officer Sarah Griffin.  

By the end of 2024, the city would like to have hired 200 officers, plus another 200 to cap off 2025, according to Griffin. Retention will be managed through incentive systems that’d give officers a reason to stick around. The contract adds another step pay increase for officers who’ve dedicated 23 years of service and a new pilot program for promotions — with probationary rules.

In the agreement as well are provisions that’ll let the city’s Office of Police Oversight (OPO) investigate complaints against officers during the preliminary and formal investigative process. The OPO will be able to occupy space in interrogating officers.

“The Austin Police Association is not afraid of oversight,” said Austin Police Association President Thomas Villarreal. “We believe very strongly that the citizens of Austin, the City of Austin itself, the department, and our members are all better off under contract. We’ve worked for almost a year to negotiate a fair deal for our people, and a deal that’s fair for the City. And I think that we got there.” 

The parties will discuss final contact agreement language in principle, and the City Council will then consider it. APA members will also get a say in vote over the agreement.