DA had campaigned on changing Austin before new police indictments

>> Jose Garza ran for district attorney in Austin on promises to hold police accountable in Texas' capital city. He got off to a fast start, charging at least seven officers during his first year on the job, including one charged with murder twice.

But no cases have reached deeper into the police department than the indictments Thursday of 19 officers on felony charges over tactics used during the 2020 racial injustice protests.

“Nineteen is, whew, I don't know anyplace else that's done that,” said Margaret Moore, Garza's predecessor as the district attorney of Travis County.

The indictments widened the rift in the booming city between Austin police and Garza, a Democrat whose 2020 campaign was backed by liberal allies including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and promised crackdowns on misconduct by law enforcement.

By late Friday, all of the newly charged officers had been placed on administrative leave, said Saul Gray, a department spokesman.

Garza said the indictments were not politically driven and that “our community is safer when our community trusts law enforcement.” Community activists who have long criticized the city's handling of the protests, which included officers firing beanbag rounds into the crowd, called the indictments overdue and said Garza deserves credit.

But even allies on Friday were frustrated by the lack of details, which Garza has said he is unable to release yet. Garza announced during a news conference Thursday that grand jury indictments were expected, but he gave no specifics. And more than 24 hours later, the officers' names and the reasons they were charged hadn't been publicly released.

Texas law requires that an indictment remain secret until an officer has been arrested. Criminal justice experts also expressed skepticism about the large number of indictments in one case and whether it would result in convictions.

Officer Justin Berry, a Republican candidate for a state House seat, said in a statement Saturday that he is one of those charged. He blasted Garza for trying to influence voters with what he called a witch hunt.

“This case is beyond preposterous,” Berry said. “He demonizes police, he puts no value on keeping people safe, and he harms our communities.”

Berry said an internal police investigation into the incident cleared all the officers and that there is no question they will be acquitted.

Mayor Steve Adler said there had been pressure on the city to change police culture and that he supports Garza. But he said he wants details about the indictments to be made public soon as possible.

“It is a large number and I'm anxious for the public and for everyone to learn what it is that gave rise to that,” he said.

Garza's office declined an interview request Friday and said it was still unable to release details.