• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Progressive DA launches over 20 grand jury cases against Austin officers who responded during George Floyd riots

Jose Garza

District Attorney Jose Garza (Travis County)

February 12, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

AUSTIN, Texas – Progressive District Attorney Jose Garza of Travis County, Texas has scheduled a grand jury to consider charging over twenty police officers for their response to violent riots in Austin following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The focus of the grand jury will be the officer’s reactions to protests that spun out of control near Austin Police Headquarters on May 30 and 31, 2020, during which APD officers fired bean bags, rubber projectiles, and tear gas during the riot, Fox News reported.

At least 21 officers are facing potential charges for deploying less lethal munitions at rioters who were blocking I-35, the main interstate through Austin, and refusing to disperse after multiple instructions by police to do so.

Protesters also kept Austin Police Headquarters, which is next to the interstate, under a state of siege for several nights.

Despite several rioters getting injured by beanbag munitions, then-Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said in June 2020 they were deployed according to proper police policy, KXAN reported. Moreover, several police officers sustained injuries during the violence, which spread across the city.

A spokesman for Garza’s office could not provide a list of individuals who were charged with crimes during the riots, Fox News reported.

“No, I can’t and as far as I know, we don’t track any of our cases that way,” Travis County DA Public Information Officer Ismael Martinez said. “You would need to create an open records request to get that information.”

The police union—which has had a contentious relationship with Garza—as well as an attorney for some of the officers targeted by the grand jury say that the Austin Police Department provided defective less-lethal munitions to officers who responded to the unrest.

“The department issued these officers old and deteriorated beanbag rounds,” attorney Doug O’Connell told Fox News. “So rather than coming out as a soft beanbag they came out as a hardened projectile…so you had rioters who were seriously injured by these beanbags and it shouldn’t have happened but it’s not the officers fault it’s management’s fault.”

“It’s probably a very righteous personal injury case,” O’Connell said. “But it doesn’t make the officers’ actions illegal or a criminal offense.”

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT), the largest police union in the Lone Star State, released a statement supporting the officers’ position.

“There is absolutely no doubt that bean bags fired by officers severely injured protesters who were involved in rioting in the streets,” the statement said. “What the media doesn’t know is that Austin Police Department management knew or should have known that the bean bags being fired were expired and defective. Austin Police Department leadership was repeatedly made aware of the bean bag issues and declined to take action and replace the defective bean bag rounds.”

“Rank and file police officers have ZERO decision making authority over the manufacturing, purchasing, storage or deployment of any ammunition,” the statement added. “These incidents are a clear indictment on the department leadership.  We can damn sure guarantee you that if the officers knew the rounds were expired and defective, they would have never used them. No APD patrol officer has ever been expected to disassemble issued beanbag rounds or any type of ammunition themselves to gauge their usability. This was a responsibility of department leadership.”

CLEAT Executive Director Charley Wilkison posed several probing questions in the statement.

“Why was the ammunition destroyed before it could be tested? The ammunition was evidence,” Wilkison asked. “Evidence was destroyed. Why are certain documents being withheld by the city? When did the Mayor, Mayor Pro-Tem, City Manager, Chief of Police, Assistant Chief and Commanders know? These are the questions we want to see answered.”

The Austin Police Department as well as Garza’s office declined to provide comment to Fox News on the grand jury case.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: austinAustin Police DepartmentJose Garzamust-readTexasTravis County
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Isaiah Patrick Bias

Texas detention officer murdered while escorting ‘pure evil’ inmate

December 18, 2024
Jacob Candanoza

Texas police officer killed in overnight shooting, gunman in custody following manhunt

December 9, 2024
Jerome Scholz

Off-duty Texas police officer killed in motorcycle crash

November 18, 2024
Pregnant woman

Dallas approves measure to add 900 police officers

November 7, 2024
Richard Curtis

Pizza shop employees turn the tables on armed robbery suspect

October 17, 2024
Karissa David

Dallas police officer blinded as fellow officer murdered in execution-style slaying

September 25, 2024
Load More

Latest Articles

Explosion at L.A. Sheriff Training Center Kills Three Deputies

July 18, 2025

Is Behavioral Enforcement A Path To Safer Roadways?

July 16, 2025

I’m Not Broken, I’m Dangerous

July 4, 2025

The Problem with Promotions

June 20, 2025
Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker Assassinated in Attack on Multiple Lawmakers

June 14, 2025

Sheriff: If You Throw a Brick At Our Deputy, ‘We Will Kill You, Graveyard Dead’

June 13, 2025
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

Protect Your Privacy

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

POPULAR GEAR

Tactical Pants

Tactical Boots

 

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2024 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Advertise
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2024 LawOfficer.com