I have been speaking to and listening to San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers for several months and I have learned a lot about their work and their morale. They are a great bunch of people, but the national and local politics have created a hostile work environment for them. Most are discouraged and some are suffering from depression.
After listening to these officers and analyzing some current SAPD policies for doing police work, it is apparent that leadership at SAPD is failing them. The SAPD leadership seems more interested in political correctness than in good common sense police work and public safety.
For example, the recent handling of two separate standoffs showed a lack of leadership and action by the SAPD leaders and SWAT team leaders. SWAT officers (boots-on-the-ground) had to wait for the suspects to surrender, in one case 76 hours. SWAT could have used direct tactics to end the standoff, but SAPD and SWAT leadership prevented them from taking any decisive action out of fear of bad publicity. This policy favors the criminal.
There is also Chief McManus’ policy of “no breaching” at the houses of suspected drug dealers and murderers. That means SAPD officers cannot serve warrants at the houses where criminals are staying but must wait for the suspect to be in the open to take them into custody. This policy forces SAPD officers to call other law enforcement agencies for direct action assistance to prevent the suspect’s escape. It also favors the criminal.
The SAPD leadership has joined the liberal anti-police “woke” agenda and established policies that hinder police work. The leadership is more interested in political correctness than public safety.
Liberal politicians and community leaders seem to believe if you are nice to criminals, or create a taxpayer-funded social program, they will behave. However, just like they want to appease warlike nations, they simply do not understand what it takes to fight crime and keep the public safe.
Also, the politically correct approach to police work, coupled with George Soros District Attorney Joe Gonzales, has created the high crime and violence San Antonio is experiencing. Repeat offenders are back on the street as quickly as they are arrested, and the police officers feel frustrated and without support in doing their job.
The worst fear SAPD officers have is to be branded “killer cops.” In today’s world with liberal news media and liberal politicians, if there is a police shooting the officer is considered guilty until proven innocent.
Officers involved in any shooting are placed on administrative duty while the SAPD leaders and the D.A. investigate the incident. The officers have no confidence in fair treatment by the news media and the investigation by D.A. Gonzales.
Also, many officers feel they are viewed as the “bad guys” while criminals are seen as “victims of society” by politicians and the liberal news media. Many feel SAPD leaders are more concerned about bad publicity in the local liberal news media than public safety.
Local news outlets such as the San Antonio Express-News, KSAT 12 TV news, the Current, and other news outlets celebrate when an officer is in trouble. However, they never report if an arrested person is a repeat offender released by the local liberal courts.
SAPD leaders want to appease the unrealistic desire of liberal city leaders for a kinder, gentler police force. However, they ignore that there are still antisocial, violent criminals who break the law. When do the criminals become kinder and gentler?
Police officers are fighting with their hands tied by liberal politicians and news media. Criminals are not afraid of laws and the police because there are no consequences to criminal behavior.
SAPD police officers feel alone and abandoned. They are in daily combat with bad people, and they get little to no support from their leaders.
It is written, “If an unclear trumpet sounds, who shall answer or follow?” The SAPD officers are hearing an unclear trumpet, yet they are expected to answer and follow.
The SAPD officers need our support, and we should protect those who protect us.