© 2024 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

LULAC: Re-Appointment Of SAPD Chief McManus Is 'Cronyism'

Ryan Loyd
/
TPR News
(File Photo) LULAC 4383 Executive Director Henry Rodriguez (right).

The League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, is criticizing San Antonio City Manager Sheryl Sculley for deciding to hire William McManus for his old job as police chief, a position he left less than a year ago.  The organization said while it believes McManus will be a great chief again, the current interim-chief Anthony Trevino would be a better choice. Henry Rodriguez, the executive director of LULAC 4383, said he disapproves of Sculley circumventing the application process which included community meetings.

“She just took it upon herself to hire [McManus] after he had not applied or anything like that,” Rodriguez said.  “That’s a bad case of cronyism, that’s totally unacceptable and I don’t see how the council, being responsible people, can accept that.”

Rodriguez said Trevino gave his, and other organizations, better insight into the department and made time for the community. “I have to say it, this is racism at its worst,” Rodriguez added. “We have a very good chief, interim chief, that did great work, and you call the other guy and just replace him, just like that. She had to see all the good work that Trevino was doing, or maybe she doesn’t, we do, because we are out there in the community.”

Appointing department heads, like the police chief, is at the discretion of the city manager based on the city charter. “There was a process and the community panels provided valuable input,” said Jeff Coyle, city Director of Intergovernmental Relations. “But, there was no clear front runner and Chief McManus was the best choice.” Coyle added McManus did go through the hiring process when he applied for the job the first time a little over nine years ago.

In an interview last week, Sculley told TPR she had called organizations involved in the community meetings and most approved of the selection of McManus. City council members will vote Thursday on whether or not to confirm McManus as chief. If confirmed he will be back in his job on October 5.

This story has been updated.

Joey Palacios can be reached atJoey@TPR.org and on Twitter at @Joeycules