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Public Safety Committee reviews recommended civilian appointees to police complaint board; vote pushed to November
Summary
The committee reviewed recommended civilian appointments to the Complaint and Administrative Review Board (CARB), discussed selection process and transparency, and voted to return the item to the November agenda for full council consideration with additional application materials provided to council members.
The Public Safety Committee received a briefing and questioned city staff about recommended civilian appointments to the San Antonio Police Department's Complaint and Administrative Review Board (CARB). Staff presented the selection process, candidate pool, recommended appointees and next steps toward full council confirmation.
Chief of Police William McManus explained CARB's role and process: Internal Affairs investigates complaints and forwards files to CARB, which reviews investigative files and issues advisory recommendations on findings and discipline. "The board examines the entire investigative file and then votes on whether an allegation is sustained, unfounded or inconclusive," McManus said, adding that CARB's recommendation is advisory and that the chief issues final discipline after additional review and a Loudermill meeting with the officer.
Why the appointments matter
Committee members probed candidate outreach, interview practices and council visibility into the selection process. Staff said the city received 16 applications for the current recruitment, interviewed candidates on Sept. 12 and Sept. 22, and is recommending five new civilian members to fill vacancies. Staff cited collective bargaining agreement language establishing CARB and said the city manager and chief review applicants and recommend names to council for appointment.
Candidates recommended to the committee included Gary Veil Stinnett (District 9), Cathenia Castillo (District 5), Roger Majeski (District 1), Lillian Morales (District 7) and Evelyn Carvajal (District 1). Staff also listed existing civilian members and described CARB's 14-member structure of seven sworn officers and seven civilians, six-month rotation terms for each rotation subset, and training requirements for civilian members.
Questions from council members
Council members asked for full application materials and a clearer rubric for selections. Several council members asked to observe or participate in interviews; staff said applications and interview materials can be provided and that past practice consolidated staff interviews to screen applicants before forwarding a recommended slate to council. Council members also requested a follow-up briefing or B-session to discuss CARB expectations, representation and potential changes tied to future collective bargaining negotiations.
Vote and next steps
Committee members made a motion to approve the recommended civilian appointees and seconded it. The recorded committee vote was inconclusive during the meeting: members said "Aye" on the initial voice vote and the clerk recorded a procedural count, but the committee chair then noted that a majority on the full council was required for final appointment and directed staff to bring the item back to the November agenda with the full application packets for council review. Staff confirmed the current CARB roster and term expirations allow CARB to continue operating through December while the appointment process is completed.
Ending: Staff agreed to provide full application packages, interview notes or a summary rubric to the committee before the November vote and to return with the item for city-council action the next month.
