SAN ANTONIO – With one officer dead and another injured in a Thursday afternoon shootout, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus had strong words for police critics Saturday morning.
Speaking to the crowd at a Coffee with the Cops event on the South Side, McManus said the shooting has "really impacted me and the department." It has also left him angry for many different reasons, he said.
"I'm angry at the police haters," McManus said. "I'm sick of the police haters. We protect them. We defend them, and they give us a big 'F-you.' And I'm sick of it."
Officers Miguel Moreno and Julio Cavazos were on directed patrol Thursday, looking for and trying to prevent car burglaries when they saw two suspects walking in the 200 block of West Evergreen Street.
As the officers exited the patrol car to contact the suspects, one of them, Andrew Bice, pulled out a revolver and shot both officers.
Cavazos was able to hit Bice in the rear-end. However, Bice took his own life with his final bullet, McManus said.
Moreno succumbed to his wounds Friday morning. Cavazos is expected to recover.
RELATED: SAPD provides update on wounded Officer Julio Cavazos
McManus said the body cam video of the shooting was probably the toughest video he's watched in his career.
"I have never seen such evil, such calculation and such intent in a situation like that," McManus said." I don't know how that much evil can get into one person."
McManus said he has told his officers to be on their guard when they approach people.
"Expect the worst could happen because it could, and then deescalate from there," the chief said.
"The haters will say that we mistreat people. That we don't - you know, 'You were rude to me. You were mean to me. You were this to me. You were that to me.' How do you approach somebody on guard, on alert, knowing that something could happen to you, without maybe somebody feeling like you're not being friendly enough? But that's why," McManus said.
Continuing coverage:
SAPD officer dies of gunshot wounds
VIDEO: Chief McManus gives update on 2 officers critically wounded
Witnesses shaken up after 2 officers wounded, suspect killed north of downtown
Reaction pours in after death of SAPD Officer Miguel Moreno
What we know about fallen SAPD officer Miguel Moreno
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