A San Antonio police officer received a five-day unpaid suspension after an audit showed he accessed police reports involving his girlfriend and her ex-husband without an official purpose, according to disciplinary records obtained by The Hawk’s Eye. Officer Christopher Cardiel, a three year veteran with the department, initially faced a contemplated 15-day suspension before reaching an agreement with then-Police Chief William McManus that reduced the discipline. City records state the suspension also stemmed from several insulting and profane text messages Cardiel sent to the ex-husband.

Officer in Trouble Call Preceded Investigation

The disciplinary order states SAPD officers responded to an “Officer in Trouble” call at a redacted location on Dec. 1, 2025. Cardiel, who was off duty, reported that he had been assaulted by his girlfriend’s ex-husband. The ex-husband told responding officers that Cardiel had said, “I know everything about you because of what I do,” according to the order. Officers arrested the ex-husband for assault causing bodily injury at the conclusion of their investigation. The records provided to The Hawk’s Eye do not identify the disposition of that arrest, and an arrest does not establish guilt.

Audit Found Four Views of Three Police Reports

An audit of SAPD’s Mark43 database showed Cardiel accessed three reports on four occasions, according to the disciplinary findings. The audit identified an information report, SAPD21010862, accessed on Dec. 23, 2025; an assault report, SAPD23291251, accessed on May 12, 2025; and another information report, SAPD24179197, accessed on May 12 and Dec. 23, 2025. The order states Cardiel had no official department business involving the reports, which concerned his girlfriend, her ex-husband or both. SAPD found that Cardiel failed to use the database for official business or in an authorized manner designed to meet his unit’s mission.

Profane Messages Cited in Disciplinary Order

Investigators also obtained a text-message thread between Cardiel and the ex-husband, according to the order. Among the messages attributed to Cardiel were, “I cant wait to hear your fake ass apology in a week,” “nobody is afraid of an overgrown child,” and “Just stop. Grow up and quit bitching.” The order quotes additional messages stating, “That’s the gayest shit I’ve ever heard,” and, “its still a threat. Hml when your balls decide to drop and you know how to act like a man.” The quoted language is reproduced as it appears in the disciplinary record, which states the messages were allegedly shared with the ex-husband’s attorney. SAPD concluded Cardiel’s conduct failed to conform to ordinary and reasonable standards of behavior and brought reproach or discredit upon himself and the department.

Suspension Reduced From 15 Days to Five

Cardiel was served with the contemplated 15-day suspension on April 8, 2026, and exercised his contractual opportunity to rebut the charges before McManus. The disciplinary packet does not include Cardiel’s rebuttal or describe the arguments he presented. Cardiel and McManus ultimately agreed to a five-day suspension without pay running from June 14 through June 18, 2026. 

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