Austin Police Officer Suspended for Lying and Neglecting Duties in Suicide Case

Austin, Texas

An Austin police officer has been suspended indefinitely after police say he did not check on the welfare of a suicidal man who fatally shot himself in September, according to a police report.

According to the report by Chief Art Acevedo, Officer Keith McCook was negligent in his duties and lied about an incident Sept. 17. Acevedo took the action after an Internal Affairs investigation that included an interview and review hearing with McCook.

McCook, who has been on the force eight years, could not be reached for comment. He will appeal the ruling, union President Sgt. Wayne Vincent said.

According to the report, which does not include the names of the victim nor the streets in which the incidents took place, McCook was dispatched to a home about 7:20 p.m. Sept. 17 to assist in a complaint. McCook spoke to a woman who was concerned about her husband’s well-being and left a few minutes later without writing a report, the report said.

A few minutes later, the woman again called 911 about her husband, who was at a different location, the report said.

McCook then called the communications supervisor to have two units removed from the call and to have it assigned to him, the report said. McCook called the woman, who said that her husband had guns in his home and was thinking about hurting himself, the report said. Instead of checking on the man or writing a report, McCook went on lunch break about 8 p.m., the report said.

A dispatcher became concerned for the man and notified the watch commander, who had McCook’s corporal order him to return to the home, the report said. McCook returned but did not investigate and did not contact his supervisor nor request a mental health officer, the report said.

The man was found the following evening in his backyard with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the report said.

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