Plenary Speaker Bios

Art Acevedo

Police Chief, Austin Police Department

Art Acevedo serves as the eighth Police Chief in the 84-year history of the Austin Police Department and is the first Hispanic to lead the City's police force. With more than two decades of law enforcement experience, he oversees a department that employs approximately 2,000 sworn officers and civilian personnel and has been designated a national model "flagship agency" in its most recent review by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

Chief Acevedo began his professional career in law enforcement with the California Highway Patrol in 1986, bringing a well-established commitment to community outreach and coalition building to Austin. He strives to establish strong community relationships throughout the city with the goal of strengthening the relationship between the people of Austin and their Police Department. Chief Acevedo leads by example with a strong sense of community involvement through his own personal time and resources.

Born in Havana, Cuba, Acevedo migrated to the United States with his family in 1968 in search of freedom and the opportunities to be found in America. He grew up in California, and earned his Bachelor of Science degree, with departmental honors, in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. He is married to Tanya and is the father of three children, Melissa, Matthew and Jake.

Appointed Austin Police Chief in July 2007, Chief Acevedo believes in the spirit of our community and the commitment to public safety from the men and women of APD. He looks forward to his new role strengthening a world-class police department for a world-class city.