SAN ANTONIO – Police union leaders continue to claim San Antonio Police Chief William McManus has not put officer safety first. In a recent statement, union president Mike Helle said the backlash "was the result of an ongoing neglect and disregard for the safety and well-being of police officers."
"I don't know what he's talking about," McManus said in response.
McManus said he follows 24 of 30 national safety recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum. He said he chooses not to follow several of the PERF recommendations because he thinks they would put officers in danger.
"There's four of those that for me are completely off the table," he said.
He said the recommendation he most opposes would ask officers to "hold themselves to a higher standard than the current legal requirements." For example, many police agencies have adopted pursuit policies, and rules barring officers from shooting at or from moving vehicles, that go beyond current legal precedents.
Both the union and McManus expressed to KSAT that they do not agree with the above recommendation.
However, the union feels the chief sent a contradicting message to officers after considering suspending Officer John Lee, who shot an unarmed man last month.
Helle feels that McManus even making suspension an option meant the chief does want officers to go above the legal standard when considering use of force.
Helle released this statement Tuesday night: "The last thing an officer wants to do is engage lethal force. But when that situation occurs, their training and split second judgment take over and they must take action. Officers must be supported when they believe their lives are in jeopardy and they must use force to control a situation. City leadership has said they want to implement PERF recommendations and doing so puts officers lives in jeopardy and the public at risk."
WATCH: McManus discusses Lee decision & union backlash
On Tuesday, McManus reiterated he does not want officers to go above the legal standard because he also believes it would put them in too much danger. He said that is why he has rejected certain safety recommendations and doesn't use them.
He calls the issue with the union a misunderstanding.
"Misconceptions of whether I have the officer's back or not, and I've said for 10 years and proven it again and again that if you make a good-faith error in judgment, make an honest mistake, I got your back," McManus said.
He said he showed that Monday when he revoked Officer Lee's option of suspension and required extra training instead. On Tuesday, Mayor Ivy Taylor expressed she agrees with McManus' ultimate decision.