Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civilian Response Models topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee considers civilian crash technicians and expanded online reporting to free officers for violent‑crime patrol
Summary
City staff presented a CCR analysis of civilian crash investigators, expanded online reporting and technology options used in other cities; staff recommended exploring civilian or retired‑officer roles for low‑priority calls, with legal and bargaining review and a return briefing in January or February.
City innovation staff presented an initial briefing on a council consideration request (CCR) asking staff to explore ways to reduce sworn officer workload for low‑priority calls, including civilian crash investigators/technicians and expanded online reporting.
Kate Kinison, director for the Office of Innovation, summarized examples in other cities: Denver uses civilian report technicians for non‑injury crashes; New Orleans piloted contracted agents; Dallas and Houston have moved to reduced officer responses or mandated online reporting for low‑level incidents. Kinison said San Antonio had 8,274 online reports in calendar year 2024 and staff compared call categories and officer time across peer cities.
"The CCR is asking us to evaluate...the creation of a crash investigator technician role that could be filled by either a retired SAPD officer or a civilian employee," Kinison said. She outlined legal constraints (Texas Transportation Code reporting requirements) and collective bargaining considerations and recommended further study of costs, staffing models and technology options.
Council members pressed for clearer cost assumptions, asked staff to work with SAPOA on implementation constraints and raised the public‑perception issue that some residents want to see an officer at a scene. Members suggested options such as retired officers, virtual officer check‑ins or kiosk reporting at substations. Staff said they will return with refined cost estimates and legal analysis in a January/February follow‑up briefing.
