City of Austin working to release formerly sealed police personnel files

AUSTIN (KXAN) — City staff are currently working to release formerly sealed police personnel records requested via the Texas Public Information Act, according to an internal memo from the City Manager’s Office obtained by KXAN.

That memo outlines discussions had during Thursday’s special-called meeting that took place in executive session.

The discussion pertains to the Austin Police Department (APD) “g-file,” which is an internal personnel file that contains primarily unsubstantiated complaints against officers that did not result in any discipline.

The confidentiality of those files has been in flux since May 2023 when Austinites voted to pass the Austin Police Oversight Act , referred to in city discussions as “Prop A.”

The City Manager’s Office said in Thursday’s memo that since a judge’s recent decision that the city acted “unlawfully” in keeping g-files private following the passage of the Austin Police Oversight Act. In the memo, the city has received official public information requests for these files. The memo goes on to say additional staff have been brought on to fulfill these requests and release this personnel information to the requestors.

The Austin Police Association (APA) said releasing these documents violates state law, and upon the ordinance’s implementation, many city discussions and court proceedings occurred to establish whether these unsubstantiated complaints could be unsealed. APA said these complaints are typically “outlandish” and because there is no evidence to support them, the files can be used to paint “untrue” negative pictures of officers. Advocates have long said the public has the right to know about these complaints and the internal investigation process into them.

The video below provides context to the g-file argument, but some aspects are now outdated.

Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock sent KXAN the following statement on the city’s decision:

The very limited court ruling provided by the trial court did not mandate that the city release anything. I believe they are prematurely acting on a case that has not yet had a final verdict. If any material is released that is ultimately ruled should have been kept confidential, the city will have unfairly and irreparably harmed its officers and sent a clear message that their rights are not valued.

Michael Bullock, APA President

City and law enforcement sources said the only thing that can stop the files from getting released at this point is another court decision. There are currently several open court cases related to the g-file making their way through the legal system.

Equity Action sent KXAN this statement on the city’s decision:

After lying to this community for decades, the City of Austin is finally moving to a transparency system used by most law enforcement agencies in Texas – applying the Public Information Act to govern what can be released. Equity Action takes pride that our voter-approved Austin Police Oversight Act brought about this change and look forward to the improved oversight of police conduct this change can bring.

Chris Harris, Board President of Equity Action

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