The city and the union representing Austin police officers came closer to finalizing a contract Wednesday, with both sides indicating they are readying to compromise on most provisions related to police oversight — a key point of contention during negotiations after voters last year approved a ballot measure to increase police oversight. However, a "curveball" in the negotiations could delay progress even more, officials warned.
Going into Wednesday's session, the Austin Police Association had expected to present its wage proposal, which will be the final hurdle to finishing the contract. But the anticipated discussion didn't happen after a tense exchange near the end of the day about a final oversight-related provision.
The police union hasn't presented its wage proposals because both sides had to get over the large obstacle of complying with the Austin Police Oversight Act, formerly known as Proposition A, which voters approved in May 2023 to return powers to the civilian Police Oversight Office and allow investigators to access all police records and interview witnesses while gathering evidence of police misconduct.
Wednesday's session, which was the first in months, indicated that both sides seem to have found a compromise on how to comply with the ordinance and "protect officer rights," said Michael Bullock, the police association's president.
The final complication related to the oversight law deals with how officers are questioned by the Office of Police Oversight during an internal affairs investigation, namely the venue where the questioning happens, Bullock said.
He said the city's proposed language, which was added at the last minute, would allow officers to be summoned anywhere and by anyone for questioning, which could threaten some of their legal rights.
"We're very close," Bullock said. "And just a last-minute curveball kind of derailed things on a provision that we'd already been talking about when we've already removed the barriers to Prop A."
One of the most heavily discussed provisions related to the Austin Police Oversight Act was the elimination of the "G-file," a confidential personnel file held by the Police Department for each officer that includes unsubstantiated complaints lodged against them.
More: A court decision could change police transparency in Austin. Here's what we know.
The Oversight Act calls for the elimination of the G-file. The Austin Police Association, however, worries that getting rid of the file would harm officers by having unfounded complaints against them potentially released to the public.
Both sides have agreed there will not be a G-file moving forward, and during Wednesday's session they unveiled how that new system will work. Essentially, any materials that are in an officer's G-file before the contract is signed will not be releasable to the public. However, G-file materials filed after the contract is ratified will be open to the public.
Understanding the entirety of what both sides agreed to Wednesday was complicated by the city and the union withholding draft versions of the contract, going against their previous practices. Once both sides have an agreed-upon contract, a draft version will be shared with the public before it's ratified by the Austin City Council.
The city and the union first returned to the table to work on a long-term contract in March. They have been without a long-term agreement for more than a year.
Negotiations also come as the Police Department continues to face a high number of vacancies. Currently, the department is short about 340 sworn officers. Reaching a long-term contract is seen as key to helping boost the department's recruitment and to aid officer retention.
The city and the union are set to meet again July 31.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin, police union closer to finalizing contract but still differ on Prop A compliance
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