About Fix SAPD
Over the last 10 years, 70% of fired officers have been returned to the force.
Fix SAPD's Mission
Fix SAPD supports community-led policing, which can only happen by clearing out legislation that prevents holding police officers accountable.
Fix SAPD's Mission
Our belief is the policies of future policing should support:
- Compassionate Policing for officers and citizens
- Implementation of Best Practices
- Responsible Budgeting
- Civic Accountability
The current Police Union Contract and Chapter 174 stand in the way of rooting out police misconduct. We must repeal Chapter 174 in order to fire bad officers for good. Good police officers and the safety of our community are depending on it!
Commit to Vote YES on Prop B
Do you agree that accountability is non-negotiable?
The Power of Chapter 174
What you need to know about Chapter 174
Power of 174
1. Allows the police union (SAPOA) contract to override local and state laws that are meant to hold officers accountable for their misconduct.
Power of 174
2. Forces the City to address police reform through a negotiation process with SAPOA, with no guarantee reforms will be agreed upon in a timely manner.
Power of 174
3. Deprives residents of the ability to vote on a new contract, and instead it gives the power to city council members who could be endorsed and funded by SAPOA.
Vote Yes on Prop B
Repealing Chapter 174 is the first step.
Next comes 143: Chapter 143 sets up disciplinary barriers, Chapter 174 further insulates them from being addressed.
Chapter 143
Law Enforcement Bill of Rights
143 contains a number of provisions that that make it harder to fire bad officers.
- Arbitration overrules the Police Chief
- Statute of Limitation on Investigations
- Delayed Interrogations of Officers
- Restrictive Officer File (hides prior misconduct)
To fix 143 we must first repeal 174
143: Arbitration
Arbitration Overrules the Police Chief
- Arbitrators throw out cases not based on facts, but on subjective opinions on the severity of punishment
- Arbitrators are selected by both the City and the police union, come from out of town, and have no knowledge of the police force and the intricacies of the system of discipline
- Under the contract, arbitrators are restricted from looking at past discipline, but are allowed to see all past awards and achievements when making a final decision
[Arbitration] is not a good use of taxpayer money. It’s a burdensome administrative process that interferes with a police chief’s authority to maintain decorum and conduct within his department.
Chief William McManus
Chief of Police | SAPD
Repealing 174 | adopting Meet + Confer
Meet + Confer
- Lower rehire rate of fired officers
- Independent and engaged community oversight system
- Greater transparency and improved community relations
- Better starting pay for officers
- Still prohibits strikes and lockouts
- Residents voting on City Council approved contract
- FALSE: Data shows that other major TX cities under Meet and Confer actually have more officers per capita
