Police Chief William McManus has fast-tracked his retirement by three months, revealing Wednesday afternoon that he’ll step down next week instead of at the end of September, as originally planned.
The news came as a surprise to those who expected McManus to stay through budget season. Sticking around through September would have allowed him to see through negotiations on a new contract between the city and its police union and offer a bookend to his 20-year career as SA’s top cop.
McManus, 74, will retire July 10 because he accepted a position as Vice President of Safety & Security for Silver Ventures, the ownership group behind the Pearl, according to Pearl officials.
“I will be appointing an acting Police Chief from members of the SAPD command staff before July 10,” City Manager Erik Walsh said in an email obtained by the Current.
With contract negotiations underway, police accountability groups, including Act 4 SA, have raised concerns about the department’s bloated overtime budget. A March investigation by the Current found that the city had spent double its budget for police overtime in 2024, hitting $34 million.
In turn, city officials have called for an audit of police overtime spending, especially as San Antonio faces a $158 million budget shortfall and the prospect of property tax increases and program cuts. The audit would be the first of its kind in more than two decades.
Police union contract negotiations began in January and are expected to conclude Oct. 1, which was initially meant to coincide with McManus’ retirement.
Among its priorities in the negotiation process, the powerful police union wants to raise base pay for officers from $62,916, mirroring similar increases in base pay in other Texas cities.
Austin officers earn a base pay of $70,644, while those in Dallas earn $75,397, according to a press release from the San Antonio Police Officers Association. Meanwhile, Houston cops earn $75,000 and those in Laredo $69,308.
The union also is seeking a 3% annual wage increase and a $5 hourly wage increase over three years as well as an increase in city Health Savings Account contributions and monthly pay for Field Training Officers.
However, since these goals were developed, city officials have discussed the need to tighten the belt, which might even require reining in SAPD’s budget.
Though the public statement about McManus’ expedited retirement cites a new job, the early exit may spare him being in charge if negotiations for a contract become heated over the city’s financial constraints. The departure also could result in a baptism by fire for his successor.
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