On August 21, 2025, the Downtown Austin Alliance hosted its latest Downtown Safety Forum, bringing together downtown stakeholders, public safety leaders and city partners to share updates on safety initiatives, emergency preparedness and upcoming events impacting the downtown district.
The forum featured updates from the Austin Police Department, a presentation from the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, and announcements about major events taking place in Austin in the coming months.
See the August 2025 Safety Forum Presentation
Austin Police Department Update
Commander Carey Chaudoir of the Austin Police Department provided an update on downtown policing strategies, staffing and operational initiatives currently underway.
Topics discussed included staffing updates within the Downtown Area Command and ongoing coordination between APD officers and downtown stakeholders to address safety concerns.
Key operational updates included:
-
APD / DTAC Staffing: Updates on officer staffing and deployment in the downtown area.
-
Crime Trends: Overview of recent crime trends and ongoing monitoring efforts.
-
Downtown Public Order Team: Continued focus on maintaining public safety and addressing quality-of-life issues in high-traffic areas.
-
Downtown Area Rapid Response Team (DARRT): Rapid response resources supporting incident response downtown.
-
East Sixth Street Traffic Management: Updated barricade and traffic management strategies designed to improve safety and pedestrian flow during peak nightlife hours.
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response
The forum also featured a presentation from Jim Redick, Director of the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM).
Redick discussed the city’s approach to disaster preparedness and emergency coordination, highlighting how multiple city departments and regional partners work together to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The department’s mission is to coordinate Austin’s efforts to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters while protecting life, property and the environment.
Key Hazards for the Austin Area
City risk assessments identify several hazards that require ongoing preparedness planning, including:
-
Inland flooding
-
Wildfire
-
Hail
-
Infectious disease/pandemics
-
Tornadoes
-
Hazardous material incidents
-
Pipeline incidents
-
Hurricane wind
-
Winter storms
-
Terrorism
-
Drought
-
Thunderstorms
-
Extreme heat
-
Dam failure
Austin’s emergency response system relies on the Incident Command System (ICS), which organizes emergency response teams into coordinated sections responsible for operations, planning, logistics and administrative support during major incidents.
The city regularly conducts training exercises, tabletop simulations and real-world response reviews to strengthen preparedness and coordination across agencies.
Downtown Resources
Downtown stakeholders were also reminded of services available through the Downtown Austin Alliance Ambassador Program.
Downtown Ambassadors serve as on-the-ground resources for businesses, residents and visitors, helping address issues such as:
-
Cleanliness concerns
-
Visitor assistance
-
Wayfinding support
-
Minor maintenance issues
Service requests can be submitted online through the Downtown Austin Alliance website.
Upcoming Downtown Events
Several major events and conferences are scheduled in Austin in the coming weeks and months that may impact downtown activity.
August
-
Blues on the Green – Zilker Park (Aug. 5–6)
-
PBR Team Series: Gambler Days – Moody Center (Aug. 22–24)
-
Austin Pride Parade & Festival – Fiesta Gardens (Aug. 23)
-
AppDirect Conference – Austin Convention Center (Aug. 25–27)
September
-
FIA World Endurance Championship – Circuit of the Americas (Sept. 5–7)
-
Bat Fest – Congress Avenue Bridge (Sept. 6)
-
Fantastic Fest – Alamo Drafthouse (Sept. 18–25)
-
VIBE Downtown – Old Sixth (Sept. 19–20)
-
Pride in Local Music Festival – 3TEN at ACL Live (Sept. 21)
-
Austin Museum Day – Various locations (Sept. 21)
-
LEVITATION Festival – Various locations (Sept. 25–28)
Join the Next Downtown Safety Forum
The next Downtown Safety Forum will take place:
Thursday, September 18, 2025
8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Via Zoom
Downtown stakeholders are encouraged to attend to stay informed on public safety initiatives, emergency preparedness and upcoming activity in the downtown district.