Police Chief William McManus has fast-tracked his retirement by three months, revealing Wednesday afternoon that he’ll step down subsequent week as an alternative of on the finish of September, as initially deliberate.
The information got here as a shock to those that anticipated McManus to remain by means of price range season. Sticking round by means of September would have allowed him to see by means of negotiations on a brand new contract between the town and its police union and provide a bookend to his 20-year profession as SA’s prime cop.
McManus, 74, will retire July 10 as a result of he accepted a place as Vice President of Security & Safety for Silver Ventures, the possession group behind the Pearl, based on Pearl officers.
“I will likely be appointing an appearing Police Chief from members of the SAPD command workers earlier than July 10,” Metropolis Supervisor Erik Walsh mentioned in an e mail obtained by the Present.
With contract negotiations underway, police accountability teams, together with Act 4 SA, have raised issues in regards to the division’s bloated additional time price range. A March investigation by the Present discovered that the town had spent double its price range for police additional time in 2024, hitting $34 million.
In flip, metropolis officers have known as for an audit of police additional time spending, particularly as San Antonio faces a $158 million price range shortfall and the prospect of property tax will increase and program cuts. The audit can be the primary of its type in additional than 20 years.
Police union contract negotiations started in January and are anticipated to conclude Oct. 1, which was initially meant to coincide with McManus’ retirement.
Amongst its priorities within the negotiation course of, the highly effective police union needs to boost base pay for officers from $62,916, mirroring related will increase in base pay in different Texas cities.
Austin officers earn a base pay of $70,644, whereas these in Dallas earn $75,397, based on a press launch from the San Antonio Police Officers Affiliation. In the meantime, Houston cops earn $75,000 and people in Laredo $69,308.
The union is also in search of a 3% annual wage improve and a $5 hourly wage improve over three years in addition to a rise in metropolis Well being Financial savings Account contributions and month-to-month pay for Discipline Coaching Officers.
Nevertheless, since these objectives had been developed, metropolis officers have mentioned the necessity to tighten the belt, which could even require reining in SAPD’s price range.
Although the general public assertion about McManus’ expedited retirement cites a brand new job, the early exit could spare him being in cost if negotiations for a contract turn into heated over the town’s monetary constraints. The departure additionally might lead to a baptism by hearth for his successor.
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