North Austin News

Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax has selected Lisa Davis, Assistant Chief with the Cincinnati, Ohio Police Department, to be the City of Austin’s new Chief of Police. The appointment requires City Council approval and Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Members will consider it on Tuesday, August 6, at a special-called meeting for 1 p.m.

“The Chief of Police is a critical position for any city and, as I’ve said since joining the City of Austin in early May, identifying a permanent police chief was a top priority for me,” Broadnax said. “I appreciate the invaluable feedback I’ve received, which has helped inform my decision. I have elected to move Chief Davis forward for confirmation by the City Council as she has a stellar record in her extensive career in law enforcement, and I am confident that she will earn the trust and confidence of our Austin Police officers and our community.”

Chief Davis’s career spans more than three decades with the Cincinnati Police Department, where she currently serves as Assistant Chief and Investigations Bureau Commander overseeing homicide, major offenders, narcotics and personal crimes.

Davis, who will be the second woman in Austin’s history to hold the permanent chief role, has served in multiple roles throughout her career and has specialized in building community relationships and using problem-solving and evidence-based policing to address crime and disorder. In Cincinnati, she created a city-wide problem-solving unit trained to address crime and disorder in chronically violent locations, reducing overall crime and increasing the quality of life for area residents.

Davis is passionate about community policing and building police legitimacy through community partnerships. She developed a specialized unit to address at-risk population victimization that includes the LGBTQ community, Latino/Hispanic community, human trafficking victims and homeless youth.

“Collaboration and trust are the foundation of my approach to public safety,” Davis said. “I am honored to be selected as Austin’s Chief of Police and I can’t wait to begin building relationships with our officers, city leaders, and community members so we can work together to ensure Austin is a safe and welcoming place for everyone.”

Davis has received several awards for her work including Superior Achievement in Law Enforcement and the Award of Valor. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University.

Broadnax made his selection following several rounds of interviews with two finalists including community panels. Finalists also participated in a public meet-and-greet event where they answered questions submitted by community members and laid out their leadership vision. Austinites had the opportunity to talk with each candidate and submit feedback surveys following the event.