The president of Austin’s police union has announced that he’s retiring from the Austin Police Department (APD), according to reports from Austin-based media outlets.
Ken Casaday leads the Austin Police Association (APA) and has worked for APD for 25 years.
Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported that the development comes just as the department is immersed in labor contract negotiations.
Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported that Casaday intends to stay in law enforcement and is open to “another job opportunity.”
KXAN reported that the police officers’ current contract is set to end on Sept. 30, but in the event the City of Austin and APD don’t reach a deal, negotiations could continue for as long as six months.
Once all parties settle on an agreement, it’ll be presented before the Austin City Council for a vote.
Austin CBS affiliate KEYE reported that Casaday’s decision to retire has nothing to do with the contract discussions but he and his family are looking to make a change.
Casaday divulged to KEYE that he experienced a health scare, as well as dealt with protesters gathering at his residence.
“I think my family and myself are ready to move on from APD,” he said, the station reported.
According to KEYE, Casaday is proud of his time as head of the APA, beaming at how agreements were successfully reached under his watch.
“We’re still – once you get above the five-year mark – the highest paid in the state of Texas,” the police veteran told the station.
Casaday earlier this year voiced opposition to the Travis County District Attorney’s (DA) Office’s indictment of more than a dozen officers for excessive force in connection with the May 2020 racial injustice protests that occurred in the Texas state capital, KEYE reported.
“There’s no doubt in my mind they had defective equipment,” he said, per the station.
KEYE reported that APA Vice President Thomas Villarreal will succeed Casaday.