Report: Area police take issue with Bexar County Jail policy on medical screenings for arrestees

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) — A new directive from the Bexar County Sheriff has raised the ire of some area law enforcement agencies.

Last month, Sheriff Javier Salazar sent a memo to Bexar County agencies, letting them know that people they have arrested must be taken to a hospital for a medical screening before they are booked into the county jail.

The memo goes on to say that suspects with the following medical conditions would be rejected by the jail:

Detoxing from alcohol or drugs

Insulin-dependent diabetics

Need for dialysis

So far in 2024, 13 people have died while in jail custody and 20 inmates have been rejected by the jail since the new policy was put in place.

Among those who oppose the new policy is San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

KSAT -12 obtained a memo to sworn SAPD officers. It states the department was not aware of the new policy until he received an email the day after it was put in place.

The memo goes on to say the chief called Sheriff Salazar “to inform him that the new procedure was overly broad, unlawful, and was causing significant operational disruptions for SAPD”.