SAPD motorcycle cops violate city policy by wearing Donald Trump caps
By Josh Baugh Updated 10:30 am, Wednesday, October 12, 2016
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More than a dozen San Antonio Police Department officers appeared to violate city policy on Tuesday when they appeared in a short video tweeted by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump wearing his trademark red hats that read “Make America Great Again.”
Mayor Ivy Taylor said she was deeply disappointed, and Police Chief William McManus said the officers violated policy and would be disciplined accordingly.
The SAPD officers were part of the department’s motorcycle unit that helped escort the Trump motorcade to and from the San Antonio International Airport.
Their uniforms include the motorcycle unit patch and many can be seen in tall, black riding boots. The unit often helps transport dignitaries when they come to town, said Mike Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association.
City officials were not immediately able to comment on the video.
In the 25-second video, Trump can be heard saying, “thank you, fellas,” to the officers. Several respond in kind and give him the thumbs-up sign while wearing the red baseball caps.
Helle said such political activity is prohibited.
“You can’t do that kind of stuff while on duty,” he said.
As Trump boards his plane to leave, the officers turn away and walk back toward their parked motorcycles. The video captures at least 14 officers wearing the hats. Beneath them, video text reads: “WE WILL MAKE AMERICA SAFE & GREAT AGAIN, TOGETHER!”
(video at source link)
Trump’s tweet encourages people to register to vote at VOTE.GOP if they haven’t already. Tuesday was the last day to register to vote in Texas.
City policy prohibits employees from participating in political activity while acting in their capacity as city employees.
Helle said these officers escort dignitaries “all the time” and seemed surprised that they would don the political hats. But he expected little punishment for their actions.
“It seems kind of benign,” he said. “They’d probably get a written reprimand or counseling to not do that sort of thing on duty.”
Last month, City Attorney Andrew Segovia sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, asking his campaign to remove the images of two employees who had attended a town-hall meeting to discuss veteran affairs.
The setting was used to film a campaign ad, and the two employees — Military Affairs Director Juan Ayala and Deputy Director Karen Rolirad — said they were unaware at the time that the town hall was being used to film an advertisement.
The two were there in their official capacity, and city officials worried that their images in the advertisement could suggest their endorsement of the candidate.
In this case, the cops appear to be supportive of the GOP nominee in his video.
Trump posted the video on his Twitter account at 4:35 p.m., about the time he was leaving San Antonio after a mid-day fundraiser. He’s said to have accepted on Tuesday some $5 million on contributions in San Antonio and Dallas.
The video began making its way around Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Several people have questioned whether officers were violating city policy. On person tweeted, “@SATXPolice clearly you only going to protect and serve Trump voters. I guess I won't be visiting San Antonio ever again.”
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