AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The Austin City Council voted Thursday to confirm the appointment of Joseph Chacon as the next chief of the Austin Police Department, capping a nearly seven month selection process.
The 9-2 vote came at almost 10:30 p.m. Thursday evening, after an hours-long executive session and more than two hours of questioning from council members from the dais in open session. Council members Mackenzie Kelly and Alison Alter ultimately voted against Chacon's confirmation.
Chacon was named the department's interim chief in March, following the retirement of Brian Manley. After a nationwide search that took place over the course of several months, City Manager Spencer Cronk named Chacon as the sole finalist for the position on Sept. 22.
More than 40 candidates initially applied for the position, with Cronk cutting the list to seven finalists in late July. Just over two weeks later, Cronk announced the list had been cut to three finalists - Chacon, Dallas Police Department assistant chief Avery Moore and Los Angeles Police Department deputy chief Emada Tingirides.
Chacon, who has been with APD since 1998, has served in several roles before becoming interim chief, including police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, commander and assistant chief of police.
The naming of Chacon as the sole finalist was met with disappointment from both the Austin Police Association and a number of community activist groups, including the Austin chapter of the NAACP.
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"The Austin Police Association is disappointed that with this selection; City Council did not seize the opportunity for change that officers and the community were ready and willing to bring about," said members of the APA Board of Directors in a statement following the announcement of Chacon's nomination. "We remain committed to doing all that we can to make the Austin Police Department one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the United States yet again, despite the uphill battle with leadership we may face."
Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder said hiring Chacon will set progress back 30 to 40 years. "This was an enormous opportunity to say, 'Hey America. We're ready to lead the way,'" said Linder. "[City Manager Spencer Cronk] says, 'Nah, now we're not ready. We're going to stand by the good old boys to keep things the way they are.'"
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