San Antonio police officers face discipline for wearing 'Make America Great Again' caps
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A handful of San Antonio police officers face disciplinary measures after appearing in a video for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Tuesday sporting red “Make America Great Again” caps.
According to Fox San Antonio, city policy bans employees from getting involved in politics while serving as city employees. Police Chief William McManus said the officers violated policy and would be disciplined.
"The officers wearing the campaign hats while in uniform violated SAPD policy and will be disciplined appropriately,” McManus said in a statement. “SAPD officers are charged with protecting the entire community. The officers displayed poor judgment. I expect them to know better than to give the appearance of endorsing a candidate while on duty and in uniform, regardless of the political campaign or the candidate."
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Mayor Ivy Taylor called the officers’ decisions disappointing.
"I am deeply disappointed by some of our SAPD officers' lack of judgment,” Taylor said in a statement posted on her Facebook page. “While on duty, police must be above politics with an obligation to serve everyone equally. Everything they do should send that message and today's actions did not."
The San Antonio Express-News reported that the officers were part of Trump’s motorcade that helped escort him to and from the San Antonio International Airport.
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In the brief video that Trump tweeted, the billionaire businessman was heard saying “thank you, fellas.”
Thank you Texas! If you haven't registered to VOTE- today is your last day. Go to: https://t.co/HfihPEA3Sp & get out on 11/8/16 to #MAGA! pic.twitter.com/KlRx4GoO64
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
Michael Helle, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association told the paper that the officers “can’t do that stuff while on duty.” He later said in a statement that they were probably “caught up in the moment.”
Helle added that the officers will probably get some sort of “written reprimand or counseling to not do that sort of thing on duty.”
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