Two Incidents Highlight Accountability Questions at Austin Police Department
The Austin Police Department finds itself at a crossroads as two recent developments underscore ongoing tensions over officer conduct and accountability: the reinstatement of an officer acquitted after a deadly shooting, and a federal lawsuit alleging serious injury during a downtown arrest.
Former officer Christopher Taylor has been cleared for reinstatement after an appeals court overturned his deadly conduct conviction in the 2019 shooting of Mauris DeSilva, marking a significant reversal in what was the first criminal conviction of an on-duty Austin officer for a fatal shooting.
The 7th Court of Appeals ruled that body camera footage showed justification for the shooting, noting officers were confined in an elevator as DeSilva, experiencing a mental health crisis and holding a knife, turned toward them.
The acquittal has sparked fierce debate. Travis County District Attorney José Garza criticized the appeals court decision as undermining the jury’s verdict, while the Austin Police Association maintains that Taylor should be reinstated to his position. A civil lawsuit from the DeSilva family remains pending.
Meanwhile, the department faces a federal lawsuit from Natalie Gialenes, who alleges former officer Joseph Spees threw her to the ground during a December 2024 arrest outside the downtown Marriott hotel, causing a traumatic brain injury.
Spees was indefinitely suspended last month after internal investigations found he used excessive and unreasonable force. Police Chief Lisa Davis determined that “any objectively reasonable officer” should have handled the situation without resorting to a violent takedown.
The Gialenes lawsuit cites over 40 other cases as evidence of a broader pattern of excessive force at APD, pointing to systemic concerns about officer training and discipline. Austin has struggled for years to reform its police training academy, with a 2020 analysis finding that training failed to emphasize de-escalation and relied too heavily on unnecessary force.
These cases emerge against a complex backdrop of police reform efforts. Two years after voters overwhelmingly approved the Austin Police Oversight Act, implementation has lagged significantly, with advocates filing lawsuits to compel full enforcement. A recent oversight report showed that sustained complaints against officers jumped nearly fourfold in 2024, with 125 officers disciplined.
The department also faces challenges from the state level, where lawmakers have proposed legislation that could restrict public access to police discipline records, potentially undermining local oversight efforts.
For Austin residents, these contrasting stories—an officer cleared after conviction and another fired for excessive force—illustrate the ongoing struggle to balance officer protection, public safety, and meaningful accountability in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.
Mayor Kirk Watson outlined several of his stated accomplishments since returning to office, as well as his hopes for Austin’s future, during a state of the city speech downtown Tuesday. (Community Impact)
Watson also took to social media for his latest “Watson Wire” on his plans for 2026.
Watson sat down with KXAN-TV to expand on his goals for the new year.
The Travis County Commissioners Court met Tuesday for its first session of the new year.
FULL VIDEO OF YESTERDAY’S SESSION:
Williamson County Commissioners also met yesterday and approved a performance-based tax agreement with Pegatron Technologies.
Austin Independent School District police are increasing their presence at three elementary campuses because of social media threats against the schools and 11 others in Texas.
The three AISD schools involved are Andrews and Barrington elementaries in North Austin and Baranoff in South Austin.
Meanwhile, A former fifth-grade teacher at Baranoff Elementary School in South Austin pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of child sexual abuse material. (Austin American-Statesman)
The bond for the man accused of shooting and killing an off-duty Caldwell County constable deputy outside a North Austin nightclub has been set at $2 million.
Deputy Constable Aaron Armstrong died following a shooting at Club Rodeo early Sunday morning. His funeral procession occurred yesterday.
An arrest has been made in connection with a New Year’s Eve shooting in Round Rock.
Meanwhile, multiple cars have been reported stolen from the same South Austin apartment complex.
Cedar Park authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying the individuals pictured in these surveillance images in connection with multiple incidents of vandalism and burglary at the Cedar Park Youth League Fields back in November.
Local gun shop owner Michael Cargill thwarted a robbery attempt Tuesday.
Law enforcement in Williamson County had a busy December.
CapMetro next week is implementing the first of its thrice-yearly service adjustments, which the agency says will serve more riders and speed up trips. (Austin American-Statesman)
The agency is touting their ridership numbers for 2025.
However…
(NOTE: Explicit language.)
CrapMetro is refusing to charge these people rent, because if they start doing that, everyone gets evicted, and @CapMetroCEO can't boast about high ridership numbers anymore. https://t.co/jUK8rXDr1N pic.twitter.com/5cgBybuHIs
— Austin Videos (@ATXVideos) January 6, 2026
The Texas Department of Transportation is aiming to finish the Interstate 35 Capital Express Central Project by the 2030s.
All lanes of Koenig Lane were closed in North Austin as of about 5:30 a.m. this morning after an apparent collision near Airport Boulevard.
The tallest building in Texas is just about complete.
Guess who’s coming to Austin.
Crews in Georgetown made emergency repairs after a wastewater line failure Tuesday.
WEATHER
TUESDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
High temperature records were either broken or tied in Central Texas yesterday.
Del Rio broke their old record with a high of 84.
Reporting stations at the airport and Camp Mabry also recorded highs of 84 which tied the record set in 1989.
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
During opening arguments Wednesday, attorneys for ex-officer Adrian Gonzales said he did what he could during a chaotic scene.
Former Uvalde officer Adrian Gonzalez’s lawyers seek mistrial after teacher testified she saw shooter near him. Judge hears arguments at 1 p.m. today.
The Texas Education Agency is replacing the elected school boards of the Beaumont, Connally and Lake Worth school districts. (Texas Tribune)
The Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT), which represents more than a million educators, announced Tuesday that it was suing the Texas Education Agency over its investigations into hundreds of educators’ social media posts following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in support of a group of survivors of Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, family members of those murdered by Hamas, civilians under fire from Hamas’s ongoing terrorism, and individuals displaced by Hamas’s ongoing terrorism.
Paxton, meanwhile, won a lawsuit against Samsung, claiming the company collected and sold users’ personal data to advertisers.
A family is now taking legal action against two Austin organizations following the death of their daughter, a Texas A&M student who was found dead in West Campus.
TEXAS TEN MOST WANTED
Authorities in Fredericksburg made multiple arrests after two separate car collisions.
Another body, the first of 2026, has been found in a bayou in Harris County. Last year, 35 bodies were found in various bayous in the area.
For this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor look ahead in the new year to discuss Gov. Greg Abbott’s power, Democrats chances and the issues that will dominate election season.
(Episode from January 6, 2026)
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: An 0-2 start in SEC play for the Texas Longhorns.
Ja’Kobi Gillespie scored 34 points to lead No. 21 Tennessee to a 85-71 victory over Texas on Tuesday night. J.P. Estrella scored 11 and DeWayne Brown II and Jaylen Carey each added 10 for the Volunteers (11-4, 1-1 in Southeastern Conference).
The Longhorns (9-6, 0-2) were led by Tramon Mark with 20, Camden Heide scored 16 and Simeon Wilcher added 10. (Yahoo! Sports)
Up next for Texas: at Alabama on Saturday.
A Top 25 showdown in Houston last night.
Kingston Flemings scored 23 points, including nine in the final two minutes, and No. 7 Houston rallied in the second half for a 69-65 win over No. 14 Texas Tech on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
Back to the SEC…Texas A&M scored a win last night.
Pop Isaacs scored 21 points off the bench for Texas A&M, and Auburn had a potential game-winning 3-pointer called off as time expired, and the Aggies rallied from a 16-point deficit for a 90-88 victory on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
NBA: The San Antonio Spurs came up just short of a victory in Memphis last night.
Cam Spencer scored 21 points, including five in the final 1:26, and the Memphis Grizzlies countered Victor Wembanyama’s 30 points to beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-105 on Tuesday night.
Wembanyama returned to activity after a two-game absence. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Spurs are right back at it tonight in San Antonio. The Houston Rockets are in Portland while the Dallas Mavericks have another day off.
STANDINGS
NHL: K’Andre Miller scored twice while Andrei Svechnikov had four assists as the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Dallas Stars 6-3 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
No rest for the Stars. They’re back on the ice tonight in Washington, DC.
Texas Football Having CRAZY Portal Season | LIVE | 1/7/26 | NFL | Texas MBB | Austin Sports Talk
Hike Brazos Bend on a bright sunny day in the spring (or most other times of the year) and you’ll see abundant alligators, birds, and other wildlife. Rated as one of the best state parks in the nation it is a must see for those that appreciate nature. There are extensive hiking and mountain bike loops throughout the park.
