APD chief rejects City's salary offer

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo declined the City's offer to boost his salary by $12,000 for him to remain as chief in Austin. Acevedo is currently among six finalists for the chief of police job in Dallas, city spokesman Reyne Telles said Thursday evening.

In a statement issued by Chief Acevedo Thursday evening, he says: "I am very appreciative of Manager Ott's generous public statement regarding my performance as police chief, and his salary adjustment proposal. As I have previously stated, my decision to compete for the Chief of Police job in Dallas, is not a reflection of dissatisfaction with my current salary or working conditions. I consider being the Chief of Police of the Austin Police Department, who I believe to be one of the greatest police departments in the Nation, a great privilege and highlight of my professional career. I want to assure you all, that my decision to remain in the Dallas process is solely based upon my desire to explore a career option and the challenge of working in a larger diverse urban environment. I consider the City of Dallas to be a fine city, with many opportunities to enjoy cultural, entertainment and sports venues. I know that many of my friends find it hard to believe that I would leave the City of Austin, however, having been raised in Los Angeles County, I truly find Dallas to be a very desirous place to work and live." Read the full statement here.

In a memo from Austin City Manager Marc Ott to Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo titled "Retention Salary Increase," the City extended the salary incentive in an effort to entice the police chief to stay in Austin.

During a press conference in response to Acevedo's rejection, Ott said "I think [Acevedo's] concluded that the opportunity in Dallas to be attractive. It is a heck of a career opportunity. I certainly understand his interest from a career standpoint. Dallas is a great city and has many attractive things to offer, and we're a great city too. So, he has a tough choice." Watch the full press conference here.

When asked if the City planned to appoint an interim police chief while Acevedo pursues the opportunity, Ott denied that.

"He's still the chief," said Ott. "He's welcomed back here from my standpoint [if he does not get the Dallas job.]"

With a current salary of $181,480, Acevedo is the eighth chief in APD's 84-year history and is the first Hispanic to lead the city's police force. Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle earns $185,769, Dallas officials said. Kunkle is retiring after 38 years in the police force.

Ott stressed in a press release earlier Thursday that he was committed to retaining Acevedo in light of his candidacy for the police chief position in Dallas .

"I think we have an obligation to make every effort to keep him right here in Austin," said Ott in a statement.

Acevedo was named a finalist for the Dallas police chief position Monday, and the City decided not to wait until the conclusion of the hiring process to make him an offer aimed at keeping him as APD's police chief.

Acevedo is vying for the Dallas position as his service to Austin approaches the three-year mark. He was formally sworn in on July 19, 2007.

"Art is an exemplary police chief for this community and has shown the courage to take bold steps to ensure that we remain one of the safest large cities in the country," said Ott. "He's also shown the character and will to face some of Austin's long-standing challenges when it comes to APD's relationship with the community at-large."

Ott continued to say the police chief is a trusted leader who has earned the respect of his troops, his peers and the commmunity.

Ott said he is "making every reasonable effort to keep Art in Austin to continue the great work he's done with APD."

Acevedo succeeded former APD Chief Stanley Knee, who left in June 2006 to take a position with an American firm in charge of international law enforcement training in Afghanistan.