SAN ANTONIO — The Texas Attorney General’s Office sent a letter to the San Antonio Police Officers Association that an investigation into how San Antonio Police Chief William McManus handled a human smuggling case is ongoing.

In the letter, the Texas AG’s Office said they are tasked to investigate complaints made against law enforcement agencies operating as sanctuary cities. The letter also says the City of San Antonio has been fully cooperative throughout the investigation.

On Dec. 23, 2017, about a dozen immigrants were located in a tractor-trailer on the city’s East Side. Those immigrants were released from police custody.

The driver of the trailer, 58-year-old Herbert Alan Nichols, was charged with smuggling of persons.

In January, SAPOA President, Det. Michael F. Helle sent a letter to the mayor and City Council asking that San Antonio Police Department McManus be placed on administrative leave. The association claims McManus violated Senate Bill 4 when he released the immigrants.

RELATED | Police officer association calls for SAPD chief to be placed on leave

A spokesperson with the San Antonio Police Department in January said that the department had no legal authority to keep the immigrants in police custody and that "the City may have faced legal liability if SAPD had done so." Department officials also said that SAPD did not stop the Homeland Security agent from taking the immigrants into federal custody.

RELATED: SAPD: About a dozen immigrants found in tractor-trailer on San Antonio's East Side

 

 

SAPOA Response Letter 5-25-2018 by Spectrum News Texas on Scribd