To request a translation in another language or if you have any difficulty completing the survey, please contact our office through email or by phone. Our email is opo.outreach@austintexas.gov and our phone number is (512) 974-9090.    

Completion Time: 5-8 minutes (24 questions)  

The last day to submit your survey is April 1, 2022

Summary

Welcome! Austin's City Council and City Manager want your opinion on the Austin Police Department’s rules related to how and when officers use their camera equipment. The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is organizing events and surveys to collect feedback from community members.  

This survey discusses two types of camera equipment: body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras. Body-worn cameras are small cameras worn by officers to capture what the officers see and hear while dashboard cameras are cameras installed in police vehicles.  

Additional information

In this survey, the word “rules” refers to the Austin Police Department’s internal policies. These rules are in a manual called the General Orders. The rules within the Austin Police Department General Orders guide most actions taken by Austin police officers and cover everything from how to file reports to the use of force. View the current version of the General Orders. 

The Office of Police Oversight (OPO) is separate from the Austin Police Department and provides impartial oversight of APD’s conduct, practices, and rules. OPO found 9 main issues with the Austin Police Department’s current rules on body-worn and dashboard cameras. Our goal is to improve APD’s rules to enhance safety for both community members and officers. Once this survey closes, OPO will organize community feedback into a report and submit it to the City Manager, City Council, and the Austin Police Department. 

Civic engagement is part of a healthy, functioning democracy. We encourage all community members to get involved in the process of improving the Austin Police Department’s rules. 

Your input matters. Thank you for your time and your voice.