Austin Mayor Steve Adler apologized to the family of a late police officer after they were accused of falling asleep during a funeral honoring a cop killed in an off-duty motorcycle accident last month.
Adler expressed regret after an Austin police officer posted a photo online that showed him with his eyes closed and apparently with his head resting on his chest during a memorial service for Officer Anthony Martin.
A strained relationship between Adler and the Austin Police Department stemmed from a budget cut signed by the mayor and other city council members in 2020 before the latter was reinstated, Austin American-Statesman reported.
“If you’re going to defame and destroy a police department as their mayor, attend the funeral of a highly respected officer, perhaps don’t continue to insult that officer’s family, friends, and others while they sleep. keep,” Justin Berry tweeted, Joe is an Austin police officer and former GOP candidate for a state seat.
“You have shown nothing but contempt and extreme disrespect to the men and women of the Austin Police Department but to our families from time to time,” said Berry, who serves as the director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. There are also commissioners.
Adler, In a statement to Fox News DigitalNot confirmed or denied having slept during the service.
“I want to express my deepest apologies to the family of Officer Martin. Officer Martin passed away 10 days ago and will forever be honored as a hero,” Adler told Fox News.
“This moment must be about him and his family, including his two daughters, whose words touched my heart as a father today.
“I hold Officer Martin in the highest esteem. May his memory be a blessing to his family and the city he has served.”
The Austin American-Statesman reported that service began at 11 a.m. and lasted about an hour.
The head of the Austin Police Association, Thomas Villarreal, told the newspaper that the mayor’s actions distracted from honoring Martin.
“I have expressed my disappointment directly to Steve and will deal with that issue later,” he said. “For now, I ask everyone to keep Tony’s family in their prayers.”
The police movement was at its peak when Austin City Council voted to cut $150 million from the police department budget, along with a move to reduce the budget to $20 million in 2020. The Texas Tribune reported back then.
Fox News reported that the city was forced to reverse those cuts after Texas state lawmakers passed a law.
According to Fox 7, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Martin died in an accident on his way home from his night shift when a vehicle turned left in front of Martin’s motorcycle on the highway.
Fox News reported that the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
According to the American-Statesman, Martin began his career with the Austin Police in 2006 after serving in the Air Force for two decades.
The newspaper reported that Adler previously requested a moment of silence at last Thursday’s city council meeting and offered the city’s support in talks with Martin’s widow.
“As for the officer’s family, we are deeply saddened by the loss of you and his colleague,” Adler reportedly said.