SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Sheriff's Office and the City of San Antonio released the following information on suspensions of public safety workers between August 1 and October 11, 2017.
BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
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- Deputy Joshua Gonzales was suspended without pay for five days for skipping out on working a mandatory overtime shift February 2, 2017. Gonzales reportedly told a supervisor his daughter was being taken to the hospital. A supervisor told Gonzales he would be excused if he brought documentation showing the child was taken to the hospital. The paperwork showed the daughter was taken to the hospital the day before and released on the day Gonzales was supposed to work overtime.
- Deputy Charles Garza was suspended without pay for five days erroneously releasing a person who was supposed to be held for a court ordered program.
CLICK HERE TO SEE BCSO SUSPENSIONS FROM JANUARY 2013 TO PRESENT
SAN ANTONIO FIRE DEPARTMENT
- Fire Engineer Austin Cain was suspended for 30 days without pay for not reporting his March 28, 2016, arrest to the department until May 2017. Suspension records show Cain was arrested for public intoxication by the San Antonio Police Department. "An SAPD officer observed that his eyes were bloodshot/watery and he smelled strongly of an odor of alcoholic beverages. Fire Engineer Cain was also observed to have difficulty keeping his balance," the document said. Cain did not report the incident to his supervisor (as required by department rules). SAFD learned of Cain's arrest March 27, 2017. Cain acknowledged he failed to report his arrest on May 5, 2017. SAFD proposed an indefinite suspension, but reduced the punishment.
SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT
- Officer Sean R. O'Neil was suspended for three days without pay for an on-duty accident June 21, 2017, at Loop 1604 W. and Blanco Rd. Records show O'Neil forfeited three days of compensatory time in lieu of serving the unpaid suspension.
- Detective Joey J. Vidal was suspended for one day without pay for an off-duty incident. Suspension records show a Bexar County Sheriff's Deputy went to Vidal's home on July 29, 2017, for a loud musical call. "The Deputy reported that Detective Vidal was uncooperative in providing information, confrontational and called him a 'rookie.' Specifically, Detective Vidal adopted an aggressive attitude towards the Deputy by quizzing the Deputy about what he would be charged with in response to the Deputy's request for Detective Vidal's name and date of birth," the records said. Vidal forefeited one day of vacation in lieu of serving the unpaid suspension.
- Officer Humberto Zuniga was suspended for one day without pay for failing to return to work after being out on injured leave. He also continued to perform security duties at the apartment complex where he lives while on injured leave despite his work permit being revoked.
- Officer Miguel A. Saucedo was suspended for two days without pay for crashing a city-owned vehicle on July 7, 2017, in the 1400 block of Socorro St. If he is involved in another "negligent accident" withing 12 months from July 7, 2017, he will serve another three day suspension.
- Officer Edward Vargas was suspended for one day without pay for improperly documenting a call and violating the department's body worn camera policy. Suspension documents say Vargas responded to a call for panhandlers on August 17, 2017, at 1017 N. Main Ave. Vargas told three people to leave, was at the scene for two minutes, but did not check back in until nearly one hour later. A supervisor noted Vargas "failed to dock and upload video evidence for five consecutive days...(and that) Vargas took his body worn camera to his home" on three days without approval. Vargas forfeited one day of vacation in lieu of serving the suspension.
- Detective Mark A. Ballew was suspended for 30 days without pay for off-duty incidents. One involved a disturbance with his girlfriend on June 18, 2017. Ballew said his apartment was a victim of a burglary by "an unknown actor" who he later admitted was his girlfriend. The document said Ballew will serve five days of the suspension without pay, but will have to serve the remaining 25 days if he commits "any violations of similar misconduct which are subsequently sustained within twelve months from the date of September 14, 2017." Ballew forfeited five days of vacation in lieu of serving the suspension.
- Officer Antonio G. Martinez was suspended for three days without pay for leaving his shift 20 minutes before it ended. Martinez forfeited three days of vacation in lieu of serving the suspension.
- Officer Jamir D. Pollard was suspended for one day without pay for an on-duty accident in a city-owned vehicle on July 14, 2017, in the 500 block of S. Frio St. Pollard forfeited one day of compensatory time in lieu of serving the suspension.
- Officer Joseph M. Flores was suspended for one day without pay for an on-duty accident in a city-owned vehicle on May 14, 2017, in the 600 block of Porter St.
- Officer Gary S. Tuli was suspended for five days without pay for punching an alleged family violence suspect in the face on May 15, 2017.
- Officer Charles Kohlleppel was suspended for one day without pay for an on-duty accident in a city-owned vehicle on June 9, 2017, at the intersection of Potranco Rd. and State Highway 151.
- Officer Conchita I. Espinosa was suspended for five days without pay for an on-duty accident in a city-owned vehicle on July 12, 2017, at the intersection of Medical Dr. and Floyd Curl Dr. Espinosa forfeited five days of vacation in lieu of serving the suspension.
CLICK HERE TO SEE SAFD AND SAPD SUSPENSIONS FROM NOVEMBER 2013 TO PRESENT