Huge legal victory over Office of Police Oversight & City of Austin

AUSTIN — Attorneys for the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas have prevailed in a legal case against the City of Austin and the Office of Police Oversight. 

An arbitrator ruled in favor of the Austin Police Association with a judgement and monetary award in a meet and confer contract grievance filed regarding illegal actions taken by the Austin Police Monitor. 

“We had been warning city leaders about the illegal activities of the Austin Police Monitor for quite some time, but they didn’t care and they wouldn’t listen.” Said Ken Casaday, president of the Austin Police Association. “So we had to file a grievance to force them to follow the law.”

The Office of Police Oversight continually overstepped statutory authority by engaging in prohibited actions and actively sought to tip the scales of justice against Austin police officers.

“The bosses at city hall were all in collusion to solicit false complaints against police officers, create false evidence and use the system to ruin lives and careers.” Said Marvin Ryals, President of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, or CLEAT.

“We believe the citizens want the Office of Police Oversight to be forced to operate legally and ethically,” said Casaday.

The APA represents all Austin police officers and is the sole and exclusive bargaining agent for employment rights. 

CLEAT Staff Attorney Alyssa Urban represented the officers involved and the APA. CLEAT is the largest law enforcement union in Texas, with 107 local affiliated unions. 

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Attached:
Grievant’s Post-Hearing Brief (Austin Police Association V. The City of Austin)
The City of Austin’s Brief
Final Judgment