Audit finds APD lacks a measurable recruitment strategy and a coordinated pipeline; department outlines steps to respond

An audit released April 16 by the Office of the City Auditor found the Austin Police Department lacked an effective, measurable recruitment strategy and a coordinated recruitment pipeline and that the department's applicant-tracking data had reliability gaps. APD officials described steps underway to address the findings and said hiring and retention are improving since a multi-year contract was put in place.

Jasmine Triplett, the audit in charge, told the Audit and Finance Committee the audit examined whether APD is "effectively, efficiently, and equitably" recruiting and hiring sworn staff. The auditors found two primary deficiencies: APD's recruitment objectives in the department's strategic plan were not measurable or time-bound, and the department had not converted those broad strategies into specific action plans. Auditors also said APD lacked a recruitment pipeline'a coordinated set of programs to move candidates from youth and community engagement into later hiring stages'and cited…