1. Hubert Arturo Acevedo was born on July 31,1964 and is an American police officer who was previously the interim chief of police of the Aurora Police Department, the chief of police of the Austin Police Department, Houston Police Department, and Miami Police Department.
Art Acevedo grew up in El Monte, California, becoming a naturalized citizen in 1985.
Art Acevedo attended Rio Hondo College, graduating in 1986 with an associate degree in communications.
In 2005, Art Acevedo graduated from University of La Verne with a bachelor's degree in public administration.
Art Acevedo began his career as a field patrol officer in East Los Angeles with the California Highway Patrol in 1986 after graduation from their training academy.
Art Acevedo rose to the rank of chief with CHP in 2005.
In November 2016, Acevedo was hired as police chief for the Houston Police Department, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Charles McClelland.
Art Acevedo initially refused to release an audit of the Narcotics Division, which had revealed widespread problems in the division.
In January 2024, Art Acevedo said he'd been served with a subpoena to testify in the federal lawsuit and that he was "looking forward to providing testimony".
Art Acevedo received national attention for his public statements in support of meaningful reform in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, paired with significant criticisms for a lack of action locally to reduce police violence and increase transparency.
Art Acevedo was a vocal critic of local bail reform efforts, claiming that misdemeanor bail reform was a factor in rising violent crime, a claim that was contested by local politicians and criminal justice experts.
In March 2021, Acevedo announced that he would leave the HPD to become chief of police of the Miami Police Department.
In June 2021, Art Acevedo posed for a photo with Gabriel Garcia, a leader within the extremist right-wing group the Proud Boys.
Art Acevedo claimed he wasn't aware of Garcia's background when he posed for the picture.
Art Acevedo said that he went to reform policing in Miami, and referred to a "Cuban mafia" that controlled the city, which ignited a feud with the Miami City Commission.
On January 19,2024, Art Acevedo announced his resignation as Acting Police Chief, effecting January 22.
In January 2020, Art Acevedo described himself as a registered Republican during his time in California, but a "lifelong RINO," or "Republican In Name Only," usually a pejorative reference to iconoclastic or otherwise non-conservative views.
Art Acevedo appeared in a video shown on the opening night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which featured Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, activist Jamira Burley, activist Gwen Carr, NAACP President Derrick Johnson, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.