SAPD Detective Handed 30-Day Suspension for Offensive Remarks

Suspension Issued Following Harassment Complaint

In an unanticipated and shocking turn of events, a detective from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) has been handed a 30-day suspension. The internal affairs investigation confirmed that the detective had made inappropriate calls to law enforcement under false pretexts and sent vulgar and degrading text messages to his former girlfriend, according to city discipline records.

The Incident

Seventeen-year veteran of the force, Detective Arthur Lopez, was given the suspension in late June. Records indicate that he is scheduled to resume work upon the completion of his suspension at the end of next week. Suspicion was sparked following a complaint made in early January. It came just weeks after Lopez had falsely asked officers from the Schertz Police Department to help with a civil standby concerning Lopez’s ex.

Details of the Report

As per city discipline records, Lopez made a request on 13th December 2023 for law enforcement assistance at his ex-girlfriend’s residence. His intention was to announce his desire for her to cease contacting him. According to Lopez, his ex-girlfriend had dialed him while engaged in a sexual act with an unidentified person ‘to harass, embarrass, annoy and shame him’. Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered that it was actually Lopez who had attempted multiple calls to the woman and her husband that day.

Messages Revealed

The woman showed officers a series of degrading messages she had received from Lopez. He had referred to her with derogatory language and even suggested she end her own life. Lopez made six calls to the woman’s husband and attempted to contact her as well on December 13, according to discipline records. Lopez did not provide his phone records for that day or any alleged recording of the call from his ex.

Detective Suspended

The disciplinary records noted, “Based on the body-worn camera video footage, Detective Lopez’s motivations for requesting police assistance were not for the stated purpose, but rather may have been to find out his ex-girlfriend’s whereabouts, discover if her husband knew of the affair, and/or to elicit communication from either his ex-girlfriend or her husband.”

Following this, Lopez was issued a criminal trespass warning by Schertz police and was instructed to stay away from the woman’s property. The internal affairs investigation of SAPD concluded that Lopez’s actions had drawn discredit upon himself and the SAPD.

Resources for Those in Need

There are several resources for those who are in abusive relationships or are dealing with mental health issues or thoughts of suicide. These include the 24/7 Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. The local Family Violence Prevention Services and Bexar County Family Justice Center also provide support for crisis situations. Contact the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or the National Alliance of Mental Illness if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide.