Mayor Taylor says she is confident that the new system that is in place to consider discipline for police officers will work, to satisfactorily resolve the controversy over an officer who appears on cell phone video to be punching a 14 year old girl in the face, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The video, which has gone viral on line, shows the officer appearing to slug the girl while he was breaking up a rowdy teen party on the city's northeast side earlier this month.
The Mayor got the opportunity to watch the body camera video from the officer, which she says 'shows an altercation' between the officer and the girl. One reason she watched the footage was to dispel social media rumors that the officer's body camera was turned off at the time.
"I am confident in the process taking place now," the Mayor said. "While the officer remains on adminisitrative duty, Internal Affairs is conducting an investigation, including a review of the body camera footage, other videos that were taken by people in the crowd, and eyewitness statements."
Taylor says the case will go to what she considers to be one of the key achievements of her administration, the Citizens Advisory Board, which was created as part of the new contract between the San Antonio Police Officers Association and the City. The board of seven officers and seven civilians will review the findings of Internal Affairs and make a recommendation on what level of punishment, if any, is appropriate for the officer.
While the Police Chief will still make the final decision.
The decision of the Chief, as always, is appealable to an arbitrator.