Why the Austin Police Association is suing APD Chief Lisa Davis

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Association (APA) filed a lawsuit against Austin’s Chief of Police Lisa Davis, claiming she has overstepped her position.

According to the lawsuit, APD claimed Davis was breaking attorney-client privilege with a change in how the department looks into complaints against officers.

KXAN reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment regarding the lawsuit, but it said it had not been served with the lawsuit yet.

When the department investigates a complaint, it can request that any evidence related to the complaint be brought to the investigation; however, a new directive from Davis stated that evidence would be kept and put into the investigation file.

A copy of the lawsuit can be viewed below.

According to APA, since officers can have legal counsel during the complaint investigation, creating a copy of evidence for the file could break attorney-client privilege.