SAPD officer fired for failing to disclose he was a victim of child abuse

SAN ANTONIO – Years after being hired by the San Antonio Police Department, an officer was fired for failing to disclose that he was under investigation for injuring a child.

Officer Stephen Thomas, who had worked for SAPD since 2022, was terminated on May 9 and found permanently unfit for public service in San Antonio, according to documents obtained by KSAT Investigates.

When Thomas applied to join SAPD in April 2021, he answered “no” when asked if he had ever been interviewed by a law enforcement agency or had never been considered or named as a suspect in a criminal case.

However, SAPD records show that Thomas was indeed interviewed by SAPD investigators in February 2019 in connection with a possible child abuse case.

A young girl with a tennis ball-sized discoloration on her cheek was taken to CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital by Thomas and a woman, SAPD officials confirmed.

Thomas told investigators the girl fell backwards while playing and hit her face on his knee, officials said.

The child was eventually placed in the care of another family member and the case was referred to child welfare services, officials said.

However, KSAT could not find any record of any criminal charges ever being filed against Thomas.

His termination documents state that he did not disclose the investigation or indicate that he was a suspect when he applied to join the department.

This failure renders Thomas “permanently ineligible” under city civil service regulations, meaning his application will not be considered for future San Antonio civil service positions.

Two SAPD officers suspended for accidentally firing weapons

Two SAPD officers were suspended two days after separate incidents involving the unintentional discharge of firearms, according to SAPD suspension records.

According to records, Officer Nicholas Bains was suspended for violating firearms safety rules following an incident in a vehicle in October.

According to the records, Bains accidentally fired a shot from his personal vehicle in a public parking lot in the area of ​​5300 Walzem Road.

According to records, a bullet first penetrated his vehicle and then a vehicle parked next to him.

Records show Bains, who has worked for SAPD since July 2022, delayed notifying an on-duty supervisor about the incident.

Officer Jesus Gomez was suspended following a March incident at his home in which he accidentally fired his personal firearm while conducting a “dry fire” exercise, records show.

Further details of the incident were not included in Gomez’s disciplinary records.

According to city personnel records, Gomez has worked for SAPD since 2021.

Read more reports about the KSAT Investigates Page.