Austin Mayor Steve Adler apologizes to late cop's family after being accused of dozing off at his funeral
AUSTIN, TEXAS: After being accused of dozing off during a funeral for a police officer who died in an off-duty motorcycle accident in September 2022, Austin Mayor Steve Adler expressed his regrets to the officer's family. In the picture, Adler can be seen at late officer Anthony Martin's memorial service with his eyes closed and appeared to be resting his head on his chest. After the picture was published online, Adler reportedly offered his apology to the late police officer’s family.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Adler and the Austin Police Department have a poor relationship that is partly the result of a budget cut that was approved by the mayor and other city council members in 2020 before it was later restored. “If you’re going to defund and destroy a police department as their mayor then attend a highly respected officer’s funeral, perhaps do not continue to disrespect that officer’s family, friends, and others by falling asleep,” tweeted Justin Berry, who is an Austin police officer and former GOP candidate for a state seat. “You have time and time again shown nothing but contempt and utmost disrespect towards the men and women of the Austin Police Department but also our families,” added Berry, who is also the commissioner of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Adler did not confirm nor deny that he dozed off during the ceremony. “I want to express my deepest apologies to the family of Officer Martin. Officer Martin died 10 days ago and will forever be honored as a hero,” Adler told the outlet. “This moment should be about him and his family, including his two daughters whose words today pierced my heart as a father. I hold Officer Martin in the highest regard. May his memory be a blessing to his family, and to the city he served,” he said in the interview.
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If you're going to defund and destroy a police department as their mayor then attend a highly respected officer's funeral, perhaps do not continue to disrespect that officer's family, friends, and other officers by falling asleep. pic.twitter.com/YDZglVzyIM
— Justin Berry (@realJustinBerry) October 3, 2022
The Austin American-Statesman also reported that the service started at 11 am on October 3 and lasted for roughly an hour. The mayor's actions diverted from honoring Martin, Thomas Villarreal, the president of the Austin Police Association, told the outlet. “I have expressed my frustration directly to Steve and will deal with that issue at a later time,” he said. “For now, I ask everyone to please keep Tony’s family in your prayers.”
When the defund-the-police campaign was at its height, the Austin City Council agreed to cut the police department's budget by $150 million with plans to do so immediately in 2020, according to a report from the Texas Tribune at the time. After a statute was passed by Texas state lawmakers, according to Fox News, the city was compelled to undo those cuts.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed to Fox 7 that Martin was killed in a collision while returning home after a night shift when a car made a left turn in front of his motorcycle on the interstate. Fox News has informed that the collision inquiry is still ongoing. Martin began his employment with the Austin Police Department in 2006 after 20 years in the Air Force, as per reports.
To honor Martin, Adler reportedly asked for a moment of silence before September 29th’s city council meeting and pledged the support of the city with his widow, family members, and the police force. “To the officer’s family, we grieve with you and to the entire force with the loss of their colleague,” Adler reportedly said.