REP. CASTRO TO POLICE: STAY AWAY!

Chief McManus Surrenders to Castro’s Plea for Citizens to be Wary of Police

San Antonio, TX – At a time when people across San Antonio are voting, when we are seeing an increase in confrontations and assaults on public officials at restaurants and other public venues, and when suspicious packages are being mailed to media and others, U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro has called on the people of San Antonio to report on police officers “present at any polls.”

On October 22, 2018, Rep. Castro tweeted: “San Antonians – while I was at the Las Palmas early voting site this morning two police officers patrolled through the parking lot. Please let me know if other uniformed law enforcement is present at any polls.”

San Antonians – while I was at the Las Palmas early voting site this morning two police officers patrolled through the parking lot. Please let me know if other uniformed law enforcement is present at any polls. Joaquin

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) October 22, 2018

The response from Chief William McManus was not to question why law enforcement officers doing routine patrols was a problem for Rep. Castro, but instead to ask officers citywide to stand down and “refrain from patrolling through or parking in close proximity to polling locations in the City,” according to a directive in an email from Assistant Chief James (Tony) Flavin dated October 24, 2018.

“It’s no surprise that Congressman Castro views law enforcement so negatively, but his call for citizens to fear and report on police officers carrying out their duty is an insult to every officer and their family,” said Mike Helle, President of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association. “It’s also very sad that instead of standing up for his officers, Chief McManus essentially agrees with Rep. Castro that police officers are people to be feared and reported on for doing their duty.”

The safety of all citizens while exercising their right to vote should be of utmost concern to everyone, but most especially to our elected officials who represent us in Washington, like Rep. Castro. The San Antonio Police Officers’ Association urges Chief McManus to stand up for police officers and not give in to Rep. Castro’s fear-mongering and anti-police rhetoric.

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