For the first time in two decades, an Alamo City native will lead the San Antonio Police Department.<\/p>\n
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The mayor and City Council voted unanimously to confirm City Manager Erik Walsh\u2019s appointment of Jesus \u201cJesse\u201d Salame Jr. as police chief<\/a>. That confirmation was expected, but heading into Thursday\u2019s council meeting it was unclear whether Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones would approve<\/a> Walsh\u2019s selection.<\/p>\n Relatives of Jesse Salame Jr. stand to be recognized during his confirmation as San Antonio\u2019s new police chief.<\/p>\n Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News The City Council chamber erupts in applause after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones and council members unanimously confirm Jesse Salame Jr. as San Antonio\u2019s new police chief on Thursday.<\/p>\n Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News Jesse Salame\u00a0Jr. is sworn in as San Antonio\u2019s new police chief on Thursday.<\/p>\n Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News Jesse Salame\u00a0returns to the City Council chambers after being confirmed as San Antonio\u2019s new police chief.<\/p>\n Sam Owens\/San Antonio Express-News<\/p>\n Jones was absent from the news conference announcing\u00a0Salame\u2019s appointment last week, which eight of the 10 council members attended.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n But the mayor told Salame on Thursday that she \u201clooked forward to confirming\u201d his appointment after having met with him to discuss his priorities, approach to officer accountability and discipline, among other issues.<\/p>\n \u201cI know there\u2019s got to be a personal point of pride in the department to see somebody that has come through the ranks this far and is now on the precipice of being confirmed,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n Salame, 50, is a 27-year veteran of the department<\/a> and former chief of staff to then-Police Chief William \u201cBill\u201d McManus, who had led the SAPD since 2006. McManus had come from Minneapolis and spent much of his career in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department.<\/p>\n Walsh tapped Salame\u00a0to serve as acting chief when McManus bumped up his retirement from late September to July 10. At the time, Salame was an assistant chief, the second highest rank in the SAPD.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Salame grew up in Central San Antonio\u2019s Los Angeles Heights neighborhood and is an Edison High School alum. His interest in policing was piqued while taking a criminal justice course at San Antonio College.<\/p>\n He will be just the third Hispanic chief in department history.<\/p>\n \u201cI grew up in this city, I grew up in this department, and I know what\u2019s at stake,\u201d Salame told the council.<\/p>\n More than a dozen of his family members, including his parents, wife, sons and siblings, were present for the confirmation vote. He received a standing ovation after the council made it official. He was sworn in immediately after the vote.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo noted that Salame is \u201cSan Antone to the bone,\u201d and said his hiring will send a powerful message to public school students across the city.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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