San Antonio City Council Confirmed the 26-Year SAPD Veteran as Police Chief as the Department Enters Its First Leadership Change in Nearly 20 Years
San Antonio is preparing for its first major police leadership transition in nearly two decades.
City Council confirmed Salame’s position today, during session, and is effective immediately as he was sworn in after the confirmation.
City Manager Erik Walsh has appointed Jesse Salame, a San Antonio native and 27-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department, as the city’s next police chief. City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday, Sept. 10, on confirming the appointment.
Salame has served as acting police chief since July 11, following the departure of longtime Chief William McManus, who led SAPD beginning in 2006.
Salame represents continuity within the department rather than an outside overhaul.
He joined SAPD in June 1999 and has spent 27 years moving through the ranks, including 15 years in field and investigative assignments before entering senior leadership.
In December 2022, Salame was appointed deputy police chief and served as chief of staff, overseeing Internal Affairs, the Training Academy, Public Information Office and Open Records.
During that time, he helped create SAPD’s Officer Wellness Unit and was a key contributor in the department becoming the first law enforcement agency in the country to achieve Level 1 Foundational Trauma-Informed Care Organizational Certification, according to the city.
Salame also served as SAPD’s LGBTQ+ liaison officer and provided oversight of recruitment and staffing efforts that the city says resulted in the appointment of more than 1,000 police cadets since 2022.
In 2024, he became assistant chief of the Operations Support Bureau, overseeing specialized divisions including Homicide, Special Victims, Covert Operations, the Fusion Center, Mental Health Unit and SA CORE, the department’s Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort.
He also represented SAPD on a multi-agency mental health diversion and recovery committee made up of city, county, healthcare and criminal justice officials working to expand diversion programs and improve responses to people with mental health, intellectual disability and substance-use needs.
Nationwide Search Leads Back to SAPD
Walsh appointed Salame following a nationwide search that included several layers of community and employee input.
The selection process included two panels of community members chosen by the mayor and City Council members, a panel of community stakeholders and another panel made up of 12 randomly selected SAPD employees.
Walsh and Deputy City Manager María Villagómez then met with the top candidates before Salame was selected.
Walsh said Salame stood out because of his experience across the department and his focus on relationships, trust and transparency.
“Over the past 27 years, Jesse has steadily moved through the ranks, spending 15 years in the field and investigative units, demonstrating exceptional leadership and commitment to the police services provided to the community every day,” Walsh said in announcing the appointment.
McManus Leaves After Nearly 20 Years
McManus became San Antonio police chief in April 2006 and ultimately became the longest-serving chief in city history.
Before coming to San Antonio, he led police departments in Minneapolis and Dayton, Ohio.
He announced earlier this year that 2026 would be his final year leading SAPD before moving up his departure and leaving the department in July.
His tenure included major changes in the city and the department, along with continued scrutiny over violent crime, officer discipline, use of force, traffic enforcement and SAPD’s relationship with communities of color.
Salame now inherits those same challenges.
