How badly does a cop have to screw up?

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What does it take to get fired from the Austin Police Department? And what does civilian oversight of APD actually mean?

Let's look at a recent deadly incident that somehow has not garnered any coverage in local media or attention from activists.

According to an Aug. 15 letter to APD Chief Lisa Davis from Police Oversight Director Gail McCant, in March of this year Officer Avery Zucchi was driving 51 mph over the speed limit while responding to a call about a "disturbance involving a subject armed with a gun." He was driving 86 mph in a 35 mph zone when he got into a crash that left one person dead and several others injured.

Only five months earlier, Zucchi had been involved in another crash on the job. For that incident he received an "oral reprimand."

For the second crash, however, Zucchi was not disciplined at all. APD Internal Affairs concluded in July that he had not violated any department policies.

In the most diplomatic language possible, McCant objected.

"While OPO understands that Officer Zucchi was responding to a disturbance involving a subject armed with a gun on a 'hotshot' call, officers are trained that they cannot assist effectively if they do not arrive safely."

No shit.

McCant recommended that Zucchi receive a "written reprimand" for violating the following:

I believe Officer Zucchi's driving at 51 mph over the speed limit on a city street was not in compliance with GO 400.1, which states that "officers should be ever mindful that they have a responsibility to use caution, good judgment, and due care when operating vehicles in an emergency capacity to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians," GO 400.2.1, which states, "(a) When operating Code 3, officers may: 1. Exceed the speed limit but must regulate their speed so as not to endanger life or property," and GO 804.2, which states, "vehicles will be operated in such a manner and at a rate of speed that the driver, by use of ordinary care, can avoid colliding with another vehicle, object, or person."

She further recommended APD revise department policies to specify maximum speeds for responding to high priority calls.

McCant concluded her report by requesting that Chief Lisa Davis provide a "detailed, public ...