Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed an accused Austin police officer accused of using excessive force during the 2020 protests to the Texas law enforcement regulator. Justin Berry was among 19 Austin police officers charged earlier this year in the protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Berry is charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant. He also ran as a Republican for Texas District 19, but lost in the runoff election this year. Abbott had endorsed Berry in the race, saying his “strong conservative values and experience in stopping violent crime are exactly what we need in the Texas House.” Now in the governor’s hand, Berry will serve on the Texas Law Enforcement Commission, which sets minimum licensing and training standards for police. Abbott did not immediately respond to The Texas Tribune’s request for comment, but in a news release announcing Berry’s appointment Friday, he said the commission ensures “that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement personnel, corrections and telecommunications. Berry posted a statement on Twitter on Friday, but did not respond to requests for comment. “The demands and expectations of today’s professional police officer have never been greater,” Berry said of his appointment via Twitter. “I look forward to making sure Texas has the best police officers in the world. Ensuring that those who answer the call to serve their respective communities have the training and resources needed to succeed is a priority not only to keep Texans safe, but also to ensure that the trust of these very communities”. Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, said Abbott’s decision to appoint Berry to TCOLE is dangerous, not based on public safety and goes against “what is in the best interest of Texans.” “This is an accused officer who is now a member of the body that licenses and regulates law enforcement agencies,” Mokuria said. “It’s a move in the wrong direction and it makes us insecure. And, frankly, it’s a message that’s been echoed from the governor’s mansion time and time again, whether it’s to families in Uvalde who weren’t safe to send their kids to school or to all Texans during the winter storm. Our lives and safety are constantly being put at risk because of this governor.” Berry’s exact role in the Floyd protests is unclear, but Austin officers seriously injured multiple people after shooting them in the head with “less lethal” ammunition. That included a 20-year-old black man who police said was not their intended target after a man nearby threw a water bottle and backpack toward the steps where police were in formation. The video also showed a 16-year-old Hispanic boy collapsing to the ground after police fired a beanbag bullet at him as he stood alone near the freeway. Violent police tactics during protests against police brutality were heavily criticized. Along with the indictments of 19 officers, the city of Austin agreed to a $10 million civil settlement with two men who were shot by police with bean-bag bullets, including the 20-year-old. Chas Moore, executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition, said Abbott’s appointment of Berry despite his indictment “is not surprising.” Moore feels the governor said all the politically correct things after Floyd’s murder, but inaction followed. “He never cares about making sure everyone can be safe,” the activist said. “He doesn’t care about the national conversation that happened in 2020, where every state had some form of protest over George Floyd and Breona Taylor, you know. He’s a die-hard Texas Republican.” Eleanor Klibanoff contributed to this story. When you join us at The Texas Tribune Festival September 22-24 in downtown Austin, you’ll hear from changemakers driving innovation, lawmakers taking charge of new policies, industry leaders moving Texas forward, and more. View the growing list of speakers and purchase tickets.
