But Walsh did not renounce the police reassessment, although he refrained from immediately making dark cuts to the police. The city manager proposed a months-long process to study issues of police accountability and discipline, and find out what residents want from the department, with plans to present a package of reforms in April. The problematic disciplinary provisions of the San Antonio police contract, which impede the ability of the chief of police to fire public servants, have been a hot topic for years, but they have never been a priority in contract negotiations. Recent contract negotiations have focused on health costs. Chapter 143 sets the ground rules for intervention and police and fire departments in Texas, while Chapter 174 allows these departments to organize and negotiate improvements beyond the guidelines established in 143. City officials have, to some extent, tied their hands by the police union contract, which imposes a large portion of the city`s police spending. The increase in next year`s budget is mainly the result of more than $13 million in salary and health costs under the contract. I think we can be more creative and better, with police budgeting, we have a very important and incredible opportunity to redirect budget dollars to areas that can help solve problems upstream and move those dollars from police to domestic violence prevention, fair housing, mental health , support for small businesses. The collective agreement provides for the creation of a Chief`s Advisory Action Board, consisting of an Assistant Chief, a Captain, a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, a Detective and Two Patrol Officers.
Trevio: I agree that the treaty now protects bad officers. Finally, the focus has been on the health sector and this time it must focus on police reform and accountability. We must also insist that the Community be vigorously engaged and that it creates opportunities for the Community to express itself. It is important to understand what the public wants to see in their public safety services. Martin said she wanted everyone, including this generation, to have a voice and an election in the laws that govern them. She also stressed that FixSAPD does not seek to abolish or exonerate the police. While all city councillors agree that things need to change when the city negotiates the next collective agreement in 2021, some disagree on how to approach the issue. We need to look at contractual practices, promotional practices, implicit and explicit racism and sexism, whether in the police or in a municipal service or in bodies and commissions. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus also sees problems with the collective agreement and some of the state`s laws that are in effect. In both cases, he says, „they do protect the wrong officers.” (Watch the full clip at the bottom of the article.) FixSAPD is a newly created group that is working to repeal chapters 143 and 174 in San Antonio. Chapter 174 allows police and firefighters to bargain collectively, and voters adopted it in 1974.
FixSAPD has received support from organizations such as the Texas Organizing Project. KSAT: Do you think the current collective agreement protects „bad officers,” as Chief McManus found? What should change (or not change) next year during the negotiations? The union approached its initial contract negotiations and requested $1.3 million in upgrades, free parking spaces and permission for uniformed public servants to bring their police cars home for personal use. But an inch turned into miles. „All the politicians who are trying to do first aid, in this case the police, the bad guys, I think, will have a tough fight,” said Strother, who also represented candidates for the sheriff around Texas. SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said this week that lawmakers d
