By Delilah Alvarado
(AUSTIN, Texas) The city of Austin is hosting virtual meetings to hear the public's input for a new police chief.
Meetings will be held Monday, Thursday and twice on Friday through zoom, according to Fox 7 news.
The position is currently being filled on an interim basis by Joseph Chacon. The previous chief was Brian Manley, who retired in March.
City Manager Spencer Cronk is leading the search for a new chief.
The Austin Police Department has been under scrutiny for the last couple of years due to its response to Black Lives Matter protests last summer and high-profile deaths such as of Brad Levi Ayala and recently Alex Gonzales Jr.
Austin is also facing a gun violence problem which chief Chacon has unveiled an initiative for, and approval from the council to start back up the cadet academy.
Finding a new chief will include a three-phase hiring process utilizing the help of a national consulting firm Ralph Andersen & Associates who have helped more than 30 cities hire a police chief, according to Fox 7.
Dates for the council meetings are:
Monday, May 17 – 12:00 noon
Monday, May 17 – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 20 – 9:00 a.m.
Friday, May 21 – 10:00 a.m.
Friday, May 21 – 2:00 p.m.
Links to the Zoom meetings can be found here. Residents can also reach out through the city's website or send an email here.