The San Antonio Police Department fired two officers in May over separate traffic safety incidents, including one who was accused of driving as much as 60 mph over the speed limit and another who crashed into a fellow officer’s patrol vehicle, according to disciplinary records.
Former Officer Taylor Sanchez was indefinitely suspended – effectively terminating his employment – on May 28.
An administrative review of Sanchez’s conduct between August and September found that he drove a patrol vehicle between 40 mph and 60 mph over the posted speed limit on multiple occasions, according to a disciplinary report.
On Aug. 11, vehicle logs showed Sanchez reached speeds of up to 119 mph in a 55-mph zone near the Texas 151 access road and the Callaghan Road on-ramp. The report says he exceeded 100 mph at least three other times that day.
On Aug. 29, vehicle logs showed Sanchez reached 110 mph in a 65-mph zone near northbound Texas 151 and Rogers Road.
On Sept. 1, while responding to a report of lewd conduct, Sanchez reached 117 mph in a 65-mph zone near Northwest Loop 410 and Bandera Road.
He also drove the wrong way on Hillcrest Drive, according to the disciplinary report.
Later that month, Sanchez reached speeds of up to 108 mph in a 65-mph zone while responding to a major crash near westbound Northwest Loop 410 and Exchange Parkway.
The report also found that Sanchez failed to activate his body-worn camera during four separate incidents, violating department policy.
Patrol car crash
Former Officer Rafael Morado was indefinitely suspended – effectively terminating his employment – on May 26 after an internal investigation found he ran six red lights and rear-ended another patrol vehicle without reporting the crash to a supervisor, according to a disciplinary report.
The crash occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 29 after Morado and another officer were dispatched to an unspecified incident on the West Side, the report says.
Dispatchers authorized a Code 2 response, meaning Morado was expected to respond with urgency while obeying traffic laws and driving no more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit. Under SAPD policy, officers responding Code 2 must come to a complete stop at all traffic control devices.
Body-camera footage and vehicle data showed Morado drove as much as 30 mph over the speed limit and ran six red lights while responding to the call, according to the disciplinary report. The records show he reached 65 mph in a 35-mph zone and 60 mph in a 30-mph zone.
When Morado reached Brady Boulevard and South Calaveras Street, he rear-ended another officer’s patrol vehicle. According to the report, neither officer notified a supervisor about the crash.
The damage came to light Jan. 11 when an unrelated officer noticed it and reported it. The following day, a supervisor asked during roll call whether anyone knew how the patrol vehicle had been damaged. Morado acknowledged damaging the vehicle and said he struck a curb.
In an incident report, Morado wrote that “it was unknown if contact was made with the lead vehicle or the curb.” The disciplinary report concluded that he “failed to ensure his report reflected the truth.”
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This article originally published at San Antonio police officer fired after driving 60 miles over the speed limit.