The San Antonio Police Officers’ Association has decided not to move forward with a formal vote of no confidence against Police Chief William McManus, ending a brief internal debate that surfaced amid what union President Danny Diaz described as lingering morale concerns within the department.
The decision came late Thursday after the association’s board of directors voted overwhelmingly against initiating the process.
The idea of a no-confidence vote was first raised by a board member during a meeting last month, following the acquittal of three former SAPD officers in the 2023 fatal shooting of Melissa Perez.
Diaz said when the issue was initially brought to the board, some members expected an immediate vote. Instead, he instructed directors to return to their respective districts and gauge rank-and-file sentiment.
“Not everyone in that board meeting felt the same way,” Diaz said. “They went back, polled their members, and it came back 34 to 1.”
One factor in the board’s decision, Diaz said, was the limited practical impact of a no-confidence vote. The association does not have authority over hiring or firing the police chief — a decision that ultimately rests with the city manager. A similar vote in 2016 also failed to result in leadership changes.
In a statement released Thursday night, the association confirmed it would not pursue the vote, while emphasizing that the internal discussion highlighted ongoing morale and leadership concerns.
“While no action will be taken in the new year, this process has raised awareness of the ongoing concerns our officers are experiencing,” the association stated.
Those concerns extend beyond any single incident, Diaz said, and include staffing shortages, shifting internal policies, and operational changes that officers feel are often implemented without sufficient input from the rank and file.
“There’s a lot of things that are happening in-house that the community isn’t aware of,” Diaz said. “Like any business, there are changes; some officers don’t like those changes. A lot of times officers are asked if something will work, it’s implemented, then it changes again because it didn’t work.”
Despite the public nature of the discussion, Diaz said the association’s working relationship with SAPD leadership remains intact.
“I’ve been nothing but upfront, not only with the administration, but with City Hall,” he said. “They have to understand that I have a responsibility to look after the 2,600 officers we have now.”
Diaz characterized his relationship with McManus as professional, if sometimes contentious.
“Have I worked good with the chief over the last five years? Absolutely. Have we agreed to disagree on certain things? Absolutely,” Diaz said. “Have we butted heads? Absolutely. But you have to have dialogue to get anything done, because if you don’t, you can’t help anybody.”
With the no-confidence issue resolved, Diaz said the association is now shifting its focus to contract negotiations with the city — a priority he said membership made clear during deliberations.
Diaz also addressed concerns about public perception following reports that the union had been considering a vote.
“The officers that are here are here for them, right. We’re here for you. That’s the message. We still have a job to do,” he said. ”Like anywhere else, you’re always going to have disagreement.”
While Diaz expressed frustration that internal discussions became public, he said the association is now focused on moving forward.
“Just like any other business, there’s issues that some employees like, there’s issues, some employees don’t,” he said. ”You work through that and you push forward and you move on. It’s over and done with.”
