Love 'em or hate 'em, over the last decade the Austin Police Association has organized itself into a political force to be reckoned with. From their influence in City Council elections to their power at the bargaining table during labor negotiations (how else do you suppose the APD was able to secure the title of best-compensated cops in the state?) to the creation of Austin's Office of the Police Monitor, which would not have been possible without the union's support, the APA has thrown its muscle into action – no small feat in a relatively weak union state.
