SAN ANTONIO – Mayor Ivy Taylor made a rare appearance before a city council subcommittee meeting Tuesday to address concerns about officer discipline and accountability in the tentative contract between the city and San Antonio Police Officer’s Association.
Taylor was introduced at the meeting as a “citizen to be heard.”
In front of the Criminal Justice, Public Safety and Services Committee, Taylor said she feels portions of the contract are not in line with how she would like to see relations between law enforcement and the community progress, but that the contract is not the place to tackle that issue.
“Those components in the contract address discipline, which occurs after something bad has already happened,” Taylor said. “I would much prefer for us, as a community, to be proactive. Let’s talk about training. Let’s talk about recruitment. Let’s talk about de-escalation.”
Recently, District 4 City Councilman Rey Saldana raised concerns over portions of the contract that he believes do not allow an officer’s disciplinary record to be accurately reflected.
The same issues drew a crowd to City Council Chambers last week, where many expressed opposition to the contract.
The city council is set to vote on the contract with SAPOA on September 1.