APD interim chief to retire once position is filled: APD

APD interim chief retiring once role is filled

Austin's interim police chief says she's not putting her name in the hat to hold the title permanently.

AUSTIN, Texas - After nearly three decades with Austin Police, Interim Chief Robin Henderson said she will retire.

Chief Henderson took on the role of Interim Chief in August 2023, with the retirement of Chief Joseph Chacon.

Exactly nine months after her pinning ceremony in September, she said she didn’t want the title permanently.

She'll wait to retire once the department hires a new chief.

APD interim chief Robin Henderson

A woman of color is serving in the highest position of leadership at the Austin Police Department. Interim chief of police Robin Henderson has been with APD for almost 27 years.

She plans to help that person transition into the role.

"It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the Interim Chief of Police for the Austin Police Department," Interim Chief Henderson said. "This agency is where I have been raised professionally and developed lifelong, meaningful relationships and friendships. I am extremely proud of the work our officers and civilian staff perform every single day. You will not find a group of women and men who are more resilient and dedicated to keeping our Austin Community safe. My career has been amazing, and the decision to not apply was not an easy one, as serving alongside the women and men of APD is truly an honor and a privilege. Please know it is time for me to take a step back, enjoy time with my family, and see what the next chapter in life has in store for me. I appreciate the support of our Austin community and will continue to be a champion for the Austin Police Department."

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When Henderson first stepped into the role, she told Fox 7 Austin that one of her top priorities was solving the staffing shortages at APD.

"Being intentional, taking advantage of opportunities to recruit more personnel to join our department, and making sure that we do that not just on a local level but on a national level too," said Henderson.

In a memo to the city council, Austin's city manager credits her for launching a reserve officer program and focusing on staffing the 911 dispatch office.

She also saw the department through one of its darkest days in more than a decade when an officer died in a line-of-duty shooting.

What's next for her, she said, is enjoying time with her family, who are the very people she credits for pushing her to join APD 27 years ago.

The City of Austin announced it was seeking input from members of the community as it searched for APD's next chief. APD has surveys in English and Spanish.

The position has been open since May 15 and will remain open through June 10.