One of San Antonio's most familiar faces will be stepping down from his role at this end of this year.
William McManus will resign from his position as police chief in December to take a job with CPS Energy as senior director of security starting in January.
City Manager Sheryl Sculley hired McManus as police chief eight and a half years ago and was one of her first appointments as city manager. Since McManus isn't from the area, Sculley said him wanting to stay local speaks volumes about the Alamo City.
"He and his wife and their family love San Antonio and they love it here," said Sculley. "And I think it speaks well for San Antonio and the tremendous amount of positive change that has occurred here and so I'm very excited that he's staying."
Sculley said the average tenure of a police chief is about three years. McManus stayed well beyond that, she said, and made the department and San Antonio better because of his leadership. Before San Antonio, McManus served on the Washington, D.C. police force and led several other departments across the country during his long career.
"I'm saddened that he wants to retire but I certainly understand," said Sculley. "Forty years is a very long time to be in law enforcement."
Sculley said she hasn't thought about the next chief yet. She said McManus will help with the transition to the city's next chief. He'll also be involved with next year's budget for the police department, and will be able to see the police body camera program through its pilot phase before the city council decides on how to proceed with the program in the future.
