FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Helle
Tel: (210) 822-4428
Email: pres@sapoa.org
KSAT 12, OTHER NEWS MEDIA USING FALSE STAT ON FIRED OFFICER REINSTATEMENT
SAN ANTONIO, TX, JUNE 22, 2020 – KSAT 12 News1 and other news media are misleading their viewers and readers regarding the percentage of fired officers reinstated to their positions via a San Antonio City Council-approved arbitration process. Both KSAT 12 and other news media who have followed their lead, such as the San Antonio Current2 have posted stories citing “67%” or “two-thirds” when calculating the number of fired officers returning to service after arbitration. The true percentage is much lower.
According to data compiled by the Express-News3 the true figure is closer to 43%, meaning that well over half (57%) of all fired police officers over the past decade have remained fired by the arbitrator.
According to the Express-News:
• Percent of time Chief McManus brought back his own officers after firing: 28%
• Percent of time City of San Antonio won their arbitration cases: 57%
• Percent of time employee won arbitration cases: 43%
• Percent of time employees quit or retire: 17% (20% if you include medical resignations)
On June 19, 2020, Chief McManus said to the Express-News: “When I fire somebody, they need to stay fired.” But in fact, he reinstated 20 out of the 71 contemplated cases (or 28%) before they went to arbitration.
If you include all of the termination cases heard over the last 10 years, the City and the Chief have gotten their desired outcome sixty-six (66%) of the time.
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1 “Pres. of San Antonio Police Officers’ Association weighs in on recent scrutiny of police unions,” KSAT 12, June 17, 2020.
2 “Report: Two-Thirds of Fired San Antonio Cops Won Their Jobs Back in Arbitration,” San Antonio Current, January 7, 2020.
3 “Arbitrators excuse allegations of racism in police,” San Antonio Express-News, June 19, 2020.
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