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SAPD September 2022 Suspensions
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has published the suspensions issued for September 2022. SAPD Officers fall under the Local Government Code 143, as it relates to what is considered disciplinary action and releasable to the public.
SAPD Officer Suspended for Failing to Follow Procedures
On or about July 12, 2022, Officer William G. Watson was dispatched to a location for a suicide in progress. EMS determined that the juvenile should be transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment and Emergency Detention. Officer Watson gave the
SAPD Letter, Dated September 8, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
EMS personnel the Emergency Detention form, but failed to follow EMS to the hospital as per procedure.
Officer Watson agreed to a three day suspension.
On or about July 29, 2022, Officer Edward Beltran, Jr. contacted a citizen with a disabled vehicle (SAPD-2022-0984800). During the incident, Officer Beltran failed to record the incident as requiredon his body worn camera. Officer Beltran also impounded the citizen’s vehicle but failed to complete the required written report.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 12, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Officer Beltran agreed to a three day suspension.
On April 22, 2022, between approximately 11:32:00 and 11:32:02 hours, on-duty SAPD Lieutenant John Pagola, #4296 (TWI), driving an emergency vehicle, activated his emergency lights and siren and attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the 4900 block of the NW Loop 410 eastbound frontage road, San Antonio, Texas, after a 2009 Volvo XC90, driven by Mr. Joseph Moya, passed him at a high rate of speed in the 5000 block of the NW Loop 410 eastbound frontage road. After Mr. Maya’s vehicle merged onto the main eastbound lanes of NW Loop 410, Lieutenant Pagola also entered the highway and initiated an unauthorized pursuit, catching up to Mr. Maya’s vehicle, which was weaving in and out of traffic, at approximately 11:32:30 hours in the 4500 block of NW Loop 410. With Lieutenant Pagola close behind Mr. Maya’s vehicle, Mr. Moya took multiple evasive actions, to include making rapid lane changes without signaling, swerving between vehicles on the highway, driving on the road shoulder and increasing his vehicle speed. Despite Mr. Moya taking these evasive actions, Lieutenant Pagola, contrary to department policy and without the authorization of a supervisor, pursued Mr. Moya’s vehicle for a traffic infraction.
Lieutenant Pagola subsequently deactivated his emergency lights at approximately 11:33:00 hours in the 4000 block of NW Loop 410 and siren at approximately 11:33:02 hours in the 3900 block of NW Loop 410, thus terminating the pursuit. However, following the termination of the unauthorized pursuit, Lieutenant Pagola, between approximately 11:33:02 hours and 11:34:08 hours, traveled at speeds up to 91 miles per hour in a 65- miles-per-hour zone in the main eastbound lanes of NW Loop 410 and at speeds up to 79 miles per hour in a 45-miles-per-hour zone on the NW Loop 410 eastbound frontage road. These vehicle speeds are suppo11ed by Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) records. Lieutenant Pagola initiated and conducted an unauthorized pursuit in violation of department policy and failed to operate his city vehicle in a safe manner and in compliance with all traffic laws. The incident was handled under case number SAPD22084376.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 19, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Lieutenant Pagola agreed to a two day suspension.
Officer David A. Below did not activate his body worn camera during a traffic stop on July 12, 2022 (SAPD22149214), and during a search for a suspect with a firearm on August 1, 2022
SAPD Letter, Dated September 19, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
(SAPD22164635) as required by procedure.
Officer Below agreed to a one day suspension.
SAPD Officer Suspended for Failing to Take Action on Marijuana Matter
On or about July 21, 2022, Officer William G. Watson and other officers went to a call for an assault in progress. Officer Watson contacted the male subject, who admits to be in possession of marijuana. Officer Watson failed to take action on the subject’s admitted marijuana possession.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 8, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Officer Watson agreed to a five day suspension.
SAPD Officer Suspended for Lack of Professional Conduct
On or about April 10, 2022, Officer Joshua T. Lesperance had a confrontational verbal exchange with a complainant and failed to
SAPD Letter, Dated September 8, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
take appropriate action while handling the call. The failure to act in a professional manner while allowing the complainant to make contact with the possible suspects placed the complainant in a
dangerous position and opened the department up to unnecessary liability.
Officer Lesperance agreed to a three day suspension.
SAPD Officer Suspended for Delayed Response to Call
On or about June 12, 2022, Officer William A. Perez was dispatched to cover another officer on a call for “burglars in progress.” Officer Perez failed to promptly respond to the call for service. Due to Officer Perez’s delay in response to his call, another officer was placed in a dangerous situation which could have been avoided
SAPD Letter, Dated September 8, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Officer Perez agreed to a one day suspension.
SAPD Officer Suspended for Vehicle Accident
On or about June I, 2022, at approximately 5:40 a.m., while on duty and operating a city-owned vehicle in the 4100 block of Bluemel Road, Officer Kristopher D. Rich negligently struck a low-hanging tree branch.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 12, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Officer Rich was suspended for one day.
On or about May 29, 2022, at approximately 4:07 p.m., while on duty and operating a city-owned vehicle in the 100 block of Dallas
SAPD Letter, Dated September 14, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Street, Officer John M. De Leon negligently struck a pole.
Officer De Leon was suspended for one day.
On or about June 13, 2022, at approximately 6:57 a.m., while on duty and operating a city-owned vehicle in the 3900 block of E.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 23, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Houston Street, Officer Maria H. Tovar negligently collided with a vehicle.
Officer Tovar was suspended for one day.
On or about May 26, 2022, at approximately 6:19 p.m., while on duty and operating a city-owned vehicle in the 6900 block of S.
SAPD Letter, Dated September 28, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Flores Street, Officer Tiffany Puente negligently struck a vehicle.
Officer Puente was suspended for one day.
On or about June 15, 2022, at approximately 11:26 p.m., while on duty and operating a city-owned vehicle in the 9300 block of
SAPD Letter, Dated September 28, 2022, Signed by Police Chief William P. McManus
Somerset Road, Officer Edgardo Valladares negligently struck a
tree.
Officer Valladares was suspended for one day.
A Couple of Our Other Reads
You may be interested in the August 2022 SAPD suspensions.
Or the July 2022 SAPD suspensions may be of interest.
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