The San Antonio Police Department (SADP) released documents detailing an August 3, 2025, incident involving SAPD Officer Kirby Painter. Records show he drove his patrol car on NE Loop 410 and nearby roads at speeds reaching 124 mph.  The GPS data showed his car accelerating through highway lanes, shoulder areas and ramps even though he wasn’t responding to an emergency call.  Body‑camera footage captured him steering with one hand while holding a phone in the other and remarking to someone on speakerphone, “We are going to be exiting … Exit 26A … and he’s driving really fast,” while trailing a gray sedan.

Pursuit Without Approval

SAPD states the same footage shows Painter describing the driver as “just not stopping,” telling the caller to “Hold on … this guy ain’t stopping,” before radioing dispatch that the car was weaving through traffic and not pulling over.  He relayed that they were westbound on Loop 410 and that the sedan was “cutting everybody off,” but he never formally declared a pursuit or requested a supervisor’s approval.  Later he radioed that the sedan was going about 140 mph and admitted he couldn’t keep up, adding, “I don’t think I’m going to chase this guy. … I can’t keep up with him”.  Despite those remarks, investigators said the GPS data indicated he continued following at high speed.

Officer Crashes

Moments later, Painter’s patrol vehicle struck a pickup truck on Loop 410 and then an 18‑wheeler.  After the crash, video and audio recordings captured a series of candid statements that officials said showed his awareness of what he had done.  “Yeah, I was chasing somebody … I’m sorry,” he told another officer.  He repeated, “I was chasing them,” and acknowledged that he had turned on his lights “four or five times and he didn’t stop”.  In subsequent comments, he reflected, “I shouldn’t have kept following him. I should have just called it,” and, “I should have stopped chasing him … I was going probably 110; he was going 140; I was trying to keep up, I just couldn’t.”  In a written statement after the incident, Painter said he attempted to stop a speeding car, turned on his emergency lights but did not notify dispatch or his supervisor, and “chased the vehicle” until the collision occurred.  He conceded that his actions violated department policies and said he accepted there would be consequences.

Suspension

Painter and Police Chief William P. McManus signed an agreement on December 19, 2025 granting him a 30‑day unpaid suspension.  The agreement says Painter will be off duty from January 2, 2026  through January 31,  2026, and waives his right to appeal the decision. Painter was appointed by SAPD to be a police officer on May 24, 2025. State licensing records shows this as his only peace officer role in Texas.

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