SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Police Chief William McManus announced his plans to retire later this year after almost 20 years leading the department.
In a news release, the City of San Antonio said that McManus will continue to serve as chief through September 2026, the end of the current budget year.
“Serving the City of San Antonio has been one of the greatest honors of my career,” said Chief McManus, in part. “I remain fully committed to this work through my final year and to supporting a smooth and thoughtful transition.”
McManus was hired as chief in early 2006 after stints as chief of police for the Minneapolis Police Department, the Dayton Police Department in Ohio and assistant chief of police for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C.
He started his law enforcement career in 1975 with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Following the Friday announcement, city leaders have released statements or spoken with KSAT about McManus’ tenure with SAPD.
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones
“The City of San Antonio is grateful for Chief McManus’ many years of service, and I appreciate his decades long commitment to keeping San Antonio safe.”
Gina Ortiz JonesCity Manager Erik Walsh
“Chief McManus is an exceptional leader whose incredible experience and steady leadership have strengthened public safety across San Antonio and set an example for other cities nationwide. He has built strong relationships with our community and with police officers. His dedication to service and collaboration has positioned the Department well for the future, and we are grateful for his continued leadership through September 2026.”
Erik WalshDistrict 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur
Speaking with KSAT via Zoom on Friday, Kaur told KSAT she was grateful for the chief’s years of service.
“I wasn’t necessarily surprised. I mean, you know, when you’ve served that long, you do expect that retirement is the next step. And I knew his kids were growing up, so I knew this retirement was coming soon, but we didn’t know exactly when,” she said.
“I’m hoping for a leader that comes in and wants to really deeply understand root causes to public safety and wanna partner to address those,” the chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee said about the next chief.
District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran
Reached by phone on Friday, Viagran called McManus’s announcement “bittersweet” but it “wasn’t completely unexpected,” given his years of service.
“He has served the community for so long and has worked really hard to get us, you know — and I just celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new South (Flores Street) substation — get us to become a better department,” Viagran said. “But with each passing year that I’ve been serving on council, I knew that there was always a possibility that he’d decide, you know, ‘This is the year, and I’m retiring.’ So, this was the year.”
District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia
“Chief McManus has served San Antonio for many years and played a role in shaping the city’s approach to public safety and community engagement. We recognize his service to the city and wish him well in his next chapter. As we move forward, it is important that community voices are meaningfully included in the process to select the next police chief.”
Edward MunguiaDistrict 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo
“Chief McManus’s retirement marks the close of an important chapter for our city. I want to thank him for his decades of service and, in particular, for his willingness to listen and engage in conversations about alternative public safety models. That openness matters and has helped move the department and our city forward. He has also done a wonderful job building leadership within SAPD, investing in the next generation of officers and command staff. I hope whoever is selected to lead next has had the opportunity to learn from his example and continues that commitment to thoughtful, community-centered public safety.”
Teri Castillo
Speaking in person with KSAT later Friday, Castillo also said she has seen McManus build “a bench of leadership” within SAPD.
“And I’m hopeful — and my expectation would be — is that we look to leadership within the San Antonio Police Department to potentially make as the next police chief for the police department,” Castillo said.
District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito
“I’ve appreciated working with Chief McManus, and our residents consistently valued how clearly and directly he communicated with them. His leadership will be missed, and I wish him well in retirement.”
Marina Alderete GavitoDistrict 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez
“On behalf of the residents of District 8, I wish to thank Chief McManus for his decades long public service to the City of San Antonio. Under his leadership, our city has become safer and public trust in local law enforcement is strong.
“As we launch a nationwide search for our next police chief, my priority is to find a leader whose primary commitment remains the safety and dignity of every member of our community.”
Ivalis Meza GonzalezDistrict 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears
The North Side councilwoman told KSAT in an interview Friday she has seen McManus “do great things as chief.”
“So, I know it’s going to be big shoes to fill, and he has so much experience. And so, I know we’re going to work really hard to find the right person for that position,” Spears said. “And I know we already have great people already on our police force that we should be looking at. So I think I think he will be here to help us inform on who we should suggest is maybe his replacement.”
District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte
Whyte told KSAT in a Friday interview he believes McManus was a “great” chief.
“A lot of new initiatives and things that he brought here. Really tried to integrate our police department within the community, from what I’ve seen,” Whyte said. “Crime’s come down in my two-and-a-half years on council, and a lot of that credit goes to the chief. So, really happy with everything he did.”
The District 10 councilman said he couldn’t think of anything he’d want to see different in the next chief.
“Public safety is number one here in San Antonio,” Whyte said. “We need a strong chief of police that’s ready to arrest the folks that are committing the crimes.”
Danny Diaz, president of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association
“On behalf of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association, we would like to thank Chief McManus for his years of service representing the San Antonio Police Department and the City of San Antonio. His willingness to engage in open, honest dialogue created a level of communication that was truly unprecedented.
Under his leadership, he welcomed a collaborative approach which demonstrated that through mutual respect and consistent communication, meaningful progress can be accomplished. We wish Chief McManus the best in his retirement and future endeavors.”
SAPOA President Danny DiazBexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar
During an unrelated Friday news conference, KSAT asked Salazar for his thoughts on McManus’ departure.
“He was a great partner, is a great partner, and somebody I consider a mentor,” Salazar said. “I was his spokesman for many years and learned a lot from him. I hate to see him go.”
Salazar also lauded McManus for his dedication.
“That’s a man who is dedicated to his craft,” Salazar said. “I’ve tried to learn to be like that to the extent possible.”
KSAT also asked whether Salazar intends to apply for the role of San Antonio Police Chief.
“I’ve got a three-year commitment left here,” Salazar said. “I’m a year into my third term, so I think right now, this is where the good Lord wants me and a whole bunch of voters want me.
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