San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus issued a statement via email Monday evening outlining his position on how Officer John Lee should be handled by SAPD in the wake of the fatal shooting of Antronie Scott.
“I met with Officer Lee this afternoon and determined that additional training and not disciplinary measures was the most appropriate action,” McManus wrote. “At this time, Officer Lee will remain on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation being conducted by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.”
Scott, a 36-year-old African American man with outstanding felony drug charges, was fatally shot on Feb. 4 at close range by Officer Lee, an 11-year veteran, who mistook a cellphone for a gun.
McManus’ statement, which will likely reignite community protest against Lee’s continued employment, comes almost two weeks after Lee was served notice that he faces termination for the shooting which has been added to the long, national list of incidents where a white police officer shot or abused an unarmed African American citizen.
The “additional training” would commence if Lee returns to his normal duty, according to SAPD spokesman Sgt. Jesse Salame, who did not know what kind of training Lee would receive.
Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said earlier this month that his office’s review of the case could take months. The district attorney’s review is separate from that of SAPD’s, the latter of which is beholden to the police union’s collective bargaining agreement that, as previously reported, “affords officers substantial protections in such instances.”
“The issue of how McManus and other senior officers discipline rank and file officers who break the law or violate department rules and policies has been a subject of debate in recent meetings between McManus and community leaders who are pressing for stronger disciplinary outcomes in such cases.”
Top image: San Antonio Police Department Chief of Police William McManus speaks during a recent City Council B Session. Photo by Scott Ball.
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Um, wow. I really liked this guy until now. This is utterly ridiculous. I don’t care who you are or what your job title is, if you commit murder, you should be held accountable. SMH
What new
What a politician. How did this guy ever make it back from CPS? Oh wait, I remember.
Politics! Look how he handled the whole Uber mess. HE was the reason that Uber left San Antonio for 6 months and cost Uber drivers millions of dollars. For what? Can you say class action suit?
He is arrogant, narcissistic and vindictive. Any body ever wonder why he always showed up at the scene of a violent crime? I’ll tell you why. He knew the media would be there and he could go home and watch himself on tv.
Damn shame.
This feels like a kowtow as a result of the union pulling that vote of no confidence card.
Big surprise. Overpaid and overglorified cops kill unarmed citizens, go on paid leave and get away with it. While their union vilifies anyone with the intelligence and political courage to suggest that maybe they can pay a little more than nothing for their health insurance in order not to bankrupt the city. Then they retire with million dollar pensions.
Unbelievable. This officer, who is surely called to “serve and protect”, killed a man for having a cellphone.
I agree with the chief that training must occur. Training must be provided early and often throughout an officer’s career. That training MUST include the topic of unconscious bias, and each officer MUST be required to uncover his/her own unconscious biases – there are free tools available on the internet to do this. Officers should also be required to remediate themselves for their biases – again, there are ways to do this if the city/police department would take a minute and look into it. Or ask the city’s newly formed office of diversity and inclusion – I’m sure that office would be quite capable in this type of training.
Beyond that, officers in training and throughout their career should be reminded that they are not in the military; they are police officers whose duty is to protect and serve the citizens of the city – ALL citizens.
The saddest part of this story is my complete lack of surprise. LaHood will have his office shuffle paper around for a couple of months then fail to indict, like always. The union will ensure this officer, who killed an unarmed man, continues to have free healthcare, a pension, and a decent salary, like always. McManus will continue to talk tough while being hamstrung by politics, like always.
And people will continue to get shot to death by police officers. Like always.
The union will ensure this officer, who killed an unarmed man, continues to have free healthcare, a pension, and a decent salary, like always.
This is a huge part of the problem that doesn’t get fully discussed in these cop-killing situations.
What kind of “training”?