An Austin Police Department officer has been hit with an indefinite suspension after a newly released internal memo outlined a long list of alleged policy violations tied to a viral Sixth Street confrontation last fall. The memo names Officer Andy Garcia and focuses on an October crowd-control incident on East Sixth Street that left a man temporarily unconscious.
Memo lists 18 alleged violations
According to KUT, the memo obtained by reporters lays out 18 alleged violations of APD general orders. Those include dishonesty with his chain of command and internal affairs, neglect of duty, prohibited use of property and equipment, and using a city vehicle in an unauthorized manner. The memo also recounts an earlier incident in which investigators say Garcia struck a subject with a flashlight and notes that he gave inconsistent explanations during the internal investigation.
Chief Lisa Davis wrote that “His actions … brought embarrassment to APD and/or the City of Austin,” and concluded that the cumulative allegations justified an indefinite suspension, according to KUT. Her memo sends the case to APD’s Special Investigations Unit, which works with the Travis County district attorney’s office.
Video, lawsuit, and early reaction
The October encounter on East Sixth Street was captured in a brief bystander video that spread quickly online and sparked swift public backlash. The man punched in the clip, identified in court filings as James Rodriguez, filed a federal lawsuit in November accusing Garcia and the city of using excessive force. That lawsuit and the federal complaint were reported by the Austin American-Statesman, while Garcia’s removal from patrol duties was reported earlier by Hoodline after the video surfaced.
Oversight urged suspension
According to the Office of Police Oversight, its Jan. 30 discipline recommendation found multiple sustained allegations and urged an Indefinite Suspension. The document notes that a Discipline Review Hearing was scheduled in February and details concerns about Garcia’s use of force and reporting, which the oversight director said supported the recommended punishment.
Criminal probe and license status
The memo states that APD referred Garcia’s case to its Special Investigations Unit, which coordinates with the Travis County district attorney’s office, and that a criminal inquiry remains open, according to KXAN. KXAN also reported that records from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement showed Garcia still held an active peace-officer license as of March 6.
The APO file shows that Garcia’s chain of command recommended discipline “up to or including Indefinite Suspension” and asked the chief to provide a public explanation if that recommendation was not followed, underscoring the department’s formal review path. Meanwhile, the federal civil-rights lawsuit remains pending, and the district attorney’s office will review the Special Investigations Unit referral to decide whether criminal charges are appropriate, a process that can take months, according to reporting in the Austin American-Statesman…