San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Reform backers fire back at union for SAPD
The San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability on Saturday condemned comments from the head of the San Antonio Police Officers Association and called for an investigation of local law enforcement officers who may have participated in the riot at the Capitol.
“No one is against good cops,” said coalition President Mario Salas, “but the SAPOA insists on protecting bad cops. The current collective bargaining agreement prevents SAPD management from using any prior misconduct by police officers against them when considering new misconduct claims. How does that make any sense?”
Salas was joined by Josey Garcia of Reliable Revolutionaries; Pharaoh Clark, Black Lives Matter organizer; and Dorothy Wallace of Black Lives and Allies in Community at a news conference Saturday at Ariel House, 8118 Data Point Drive.
The former councilman blasted incoming SAPOA President John “Danny” Diaz for comments last week alleging that members of Fix SAPD, a group of police reform activists, had misrepresented themselves as police officers during a petition drive seeking to end collective bargaining.
In early January, Fix SAPD submitted 20,000 signatures to the city clerk’s office, seeking to have a city charter amendment placed on the May ballot that would repeal Chapter 174 of the Texas Local Government Code, which gives police the power to engage in collective bargaining.
At a news conference with Police Chief William McManus the same week the petition was turned in, the police association claimed that “a great number of these signatures have been collected … under false pretenses.”
Saturday, SAPOA President Mike Helle stood by the union’s comments, repeating that the union had received “several credible reports from citizens, including reports that have been filed with SAPD, that Fix has been misrepresenting themselves as being from or with the San Antonio Police Department.”
“As to Mr. Salas’ absurd attempts to tie SAPD officers to the terrible events in Washington on Jan. 6, I will not dignify that with a response,” Helle said, “and I trust no credible journalist will either.”
Coalition members said paid petitioners and volunteers started canvassing neighborhoods in late August.
Clark said they were surprised by Diaz’s comments because the coalition had just
“No one is against good cops, but the SAPOA insists on protecting bad cops.”
Mario Salas, SACPA
had a Zoom meeting with him. Clark said it was very disheartening to see the SAPOA leader say they were the “enemy,” after sitting with coalition leaders to address issues.
“We don’t see them as enemies and we hope that they don’t see us as enemies,” Clark said. “What we’re trying to do is ask for the accountability that should already be in place. These are things that in 2021 we should not be asking for. These are things that were being fought for in the ’50s and ’60s.”
Clark said in the days after Diaz’s comments, some of the petitioners have been followed and harassed.
“They gave the impression that we are anti-police when nothing is further from the truth,” Clark said. “We’re pro good police. What we are anti is bad officers that are left on the force to torture our citizens and abuse their authority.”
Garcia said petitioners are now emphasizing their names and that they are with Fix SAPD to avoid any perception of misidentification.
Garcia said coalition leaders are encouraging petitioners to file a police report if they are accosted or harassed, depending on the severity of the incident.
“This is indicative of a huge problem that we have within our city when our officials are fear-mongering the public to not be a part of the democratic process,” she said. “That really has to make you think of what evils we’re up against as ordinary citizens.”
Wallace said there was a great deal of training to become a petitioner. She said her group sponsored drive-thru events where people could sign the petition.
With regard to the police union comments, Wallace said she was offended that they said petitioners portrayed themselves as police.
“We’re trying to put this on a ballot so people can vote yes or no,” she said. “That’s all the petitioners were doing.”