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Lisa Davis, an assistant chief of the Cincinnati Police Department, has been named as the sole finalist to be the next permanent chief of the Austin Police Department, City Manager T.C. Broadnax announced Friday.
“The Chief of Police is a critical position for any city and, as I’ve said since joining the City of Austin in early May, identifying a permanent police chief was a top priority for me,” Broadnax said. “I appreciate the invaluable feedback I’ve received, which has helped inform my decision. 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.”
More: Lisa Davis, hopeful to be next Austin police chief, aims to boost recruitment, morale
Davis’ appointment requires Austin City Council approval. Mayor Kirk Watson and council members will consider it at 1 p.m. Tuesday during a special-called meeting.
The two finalists for the role were Davis and Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
A Cincinnati native, Davis is also a U.S. Navy veteran and started her career as a police officer with the Cincinnati Police Department in 1992. Davis worked her way up the ranks in her 30 years with the department, reaching her latest role as assistant chief and investigations bureau commander, overseeing homicide, major offenders, narcotics and personal crimes.
Davis will be the 11th chief of the Austin Police Department and the second woman to serve in the role of permanent chief.
She will inherit a Police Department that’s been struggling the past few years with both a morale and staffing crisis, as the department currently has nearly 340 vacancies of sworn officers. She’s also coming in at a time when the city and the Austin Police Association, the union that represents officers, have been without a long-term contract for more than a year.
Davis said in a press release from the city of Austin that she is looking forward to collaborating with officers, city leaders and the community.
“I am just humbled by this and truly look forward to the work of building strong relationships between the APD and the community and tackling hard issues together,” Davis said in a statement to the American-Statesman.
Friday’s press release said that Davis created a citywide problem-solving unit that reduced crime in violent locations in Cincinnati. She also started a specialized unit to address at-risk populations in the community such as the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities and human trafficking victims.
Friday’s announcement comes after a monthslong search process that advocates from across the political spectrum have criticized as being secretive and as one that should have produced a larger field of finalists.
Broadnax ultimately made his decision after several interviews with the finalists, including community panels. Davis and Norman also participated in press conferences and a public meet-and-greet event last week.
The Austin Police Department has been without a permanent chief since last September after former chief Joseph Chacon announced his retirement. Robin Henderson, who was chief of staff under Chacon, has been serving as the interim chief of police for nearly a year.
This is a developing story. Check back later for more updates.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Lisa Davis, of Cincinnati police department, tapped as next Austin chief
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