San Antonio police officer disciplined for slashing tires of bike, trailer at homeless encampment

The San Antonio Police Department has suspended an officer for 30 days after body camera footage showed him use a knife to damage the property of two people ticketed at a homeless encampment, disciplinary records show.

Officer Kenneth Cortez was punished for violating SAPD conduct rules and for not switching on his own body-worn camera before interacting with the public, according to police documents. He started serving his suspension March 28, and it will continue through April 26, the paperwork states.

Cortez’s suspension stems from an Oct. 26, 2024 call when he and another officer approached a man and woman camping in public in a Northwest San Antonio neighborhood. While the other officer ticketed the suspects, Cortez was captured on body camera puncturing the tires of a bicycle and trailer in the people’s possession, according to his disciplinary file.

SAPD officials eventually contacted the man and woman, who declined to file a criminal mischief charge against Cortez, KSAT reports, citing a department spokesperson. While the pair said they wanted to file an administrative complaint against the officer, they didn’t show up to register formal statements, according to the TV station.

Cortez was also disciplined for not turning on his body cam until he was already on the scene and interacting with the people being ticketed, disciplinary records said.

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This article appears in Apr 16-29, 2025.