Austin police gay pride SUV hit rocky patch before getting full approval
When an Austin police SUV marked with rainbow colors and phrases supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community hit the street last month, it created a social media buzz and was a point of pride for many officers and others.
But as the vehicle shows up at Austin’s gay pride festival and rolls along the parade route this weekend, internal city emails obtained by the American-Statesman and KVUE-TV this week show a top city official sharply questioned the markings on the SUV and essentially told Police Chief Art Acevedo to get rid of them.
In a July 12 email, Assistant City Manager Rey
Arellano wrote to Acevedo, “I consider the temporary decal design as unauthorized markings of a city vehicle. If you made a commitment to anyone/group, I’d like to hear how you’re going to retract that commitment, both to the external group and your chain of command.”
Earlier this month, the Statesman, under the Texas Public Information Act, asked City Hall for all cor- respondence between city officials about the SUV. The city released three pages of emails that gave no hint of that controversy. Later, after a separate request to the Police Department, it provided addi- tional records that weren’t previously released by the city, including Arellano’s email.
A city spokesman said this week that the email was Arellano’s initial reaction to the SUV but that Arellano approved after learning that the department has placed the same insignia on other department cars for special events, including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
The vehicle includes the words “Pride,” “Equality,” and “Peace” on the doors. A heart with the words “APD Pride 2016,” the police badge, as well as “APD” and “Police” are also in a rain- bow color scheme.
“We are supportive of all residents of the city, including the LGBTQ community,” city spokesman David Green said.
Officials wrote that the department spent about $1,100 on the project.
Emails show Austin police got the idea for the patrol vehicle after the June 12 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., which killed 49 people. Officers saw that the New York Police Department had decorated a similar car.
Acevedo said Friday that after he got Arellano’s email, he explained the SUV’s purpose, that the LGBTQ community was badly shaken by the mass shooting and that gay police — Austin has a gay officers’ association — had asked for a vehicle they could drive in Austin’s pride parade.
“I’m thankful that after I discussed the matter with the assistant city manager, that he appreciated the purpose for the car and the value it brings to our community,” Acevedo said.