San Antonio police shooting: Law enforcement union calls for accountability

The largest police union in Texas is calling for accountability after a man injured seven San Antonio police officers in the line of duty last week.

7 San Antonio police officers injured in shooting

The backstory:

Officers received a call just before 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday from a man at an apartment complex on Stone Oak Parkway saying he was going to kill himself. Then a woman called about shots being fired.

When officers arrived on the scene, a woman came out of the apartment saying the suspect, later identified as Brandon Poulos, was shooting inside and that he was about to come out.

Police said Poulos came out of the apartment shooting, hitting one officer in the leg.

A total of seven officers were eventually injured by the suspect's gunfire, according to San Antonio police.

San Antonio Police Chief Bill McManus said SWAT arrived and tried to negotiate with Poulos to surrender peacefully. 

Gas canisters and drones were used in an attempt to get him out of the apartment. Police say he shot down multiple drones.

After hours barricaded inside the apartment, Poulos was found dead. 

Six of the injured police officers were released from the hospital on Thursday.

The seventh is expected to fully recover.

CLEAT on San Antonio police shooting

What they're saying:

"These officers not only sustained physical injuries that they have to try to recover from, but they also have to deal with the mental injuries that they sustained as a result of this," said Robert Leonard, the Executive Director of the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).

Brandon Scott Poulos

Leonard says the suspected shooter, Brandon Poulos, had a history of violence and should not have been released from fail.

Poulos was arrested for assaulting an elderly woman only a few days before the shooting, but was released on bond the next day.

"This individual had an extensive history of violent offenses, felony level offenses that we believe required him to be incarcerated," said Leonard. "He should never have been out on the streets." 

Senate Bill 293, Senate Joint Resolution 17

Dig deeper:

CLEAT says they are backing Texas Senator Joan Huffman's bill that is a part of SB 293 and hope to see Senate Joint Resolution 17 pass, which would allow judges to deny bail to the most violent offenders who are deemed a threat to public safety.

"Too many times law enforcement are engaging with violent offenders where officers are hurt or even killed because these individuals are out on low bond or no bond," said Leonard. 

SB 293

SB 293 from Texas Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Lake Jackson) would allow the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to reprimand judges who have a "persistent or willful" violation of Article 17.15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The code says bail and conditions surrounding bail should be sufficient, and the criminal record should be considered.

Texas Rep. Jeff Leach (R- Plano) has filed an identical bill in the House.

SJR 17

Senate Joint Resolution 17 calls for a constitutional amendment, allowing for the denial of bail to someone accused of certain violent or sexual offenses or continuous human trafficking.

An amendment to the Texas Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature. A majority of Texas voters then must approve the amendment in a special election.

The Source: Information in this article comes from CLEAT, the Texas Legislature and San Antonio Police.

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