Former police officer speaks out on use of force, policies after DPS trooper shoots, killing man in Converse

SAN ANTONIO — Monday marks three weeks since a police officer shot and killed 37-year-old Luis Navarro in Converse.

Witness video obtained by KSAT raises questions about whether the use of force was justified.

“I don’t think the police officer’s life was in danger,” said one of the witnesses to the April shooting. “I understand that the guy didn’t follow his orders, but I don’t think shooting him directly in the chest helped the situation.”

In a statement shared with KSAT earlier this month, Navarro’s family said they wished the officer would “use less force.”

Videos show an unnamed soldier shooting 37-year-old Luis Navarro. DPS said Navarro died at the hospital.

The Department of Public Safety has a policy determining when its officers should use force, whether verbal or physical.

“It’s silly to have this where you had to go through all that to get this,” said Kevin LaChapelle, a former police officer and criminal justice professor. “This stuff should be public information. These are typical guidelines.”

“Why are such guidelines important?” asked reporter Daniela Ibarra.

“That’s what guides the department and that’s what the department uses to hold officers accountable to follow those policies,” LaChapelle responded. “But politicians also have to make a judgment on the part of the civil servant.”

According to DPS policy, “any use of force should be reassessed throughout the incident and discontinued as circumstances change so that the use of force remains objectively appropriate.”

“It’s something that’s not black and white,” LaChapelle explained.

DPS and the witnesses said before the officer drew his gun, he tried to shock Navarro with a Taser — but it was ineffective.

“The Taser is definitely a de-escalation tool and that will raise everyone’s awareness,” LaChapelle said.

The video shows Navarro stretching his arms forward, holding a T-shirt in one hand and pointing at the woman next to him with the other hand.

DPS did not answer KSAT’s questions about whether Navarro had a weapon on him.

The soldier can be heard shouting at Navarro to get on the ground.

“It didn’t look like the suspect was coming toward him,” LaChapelle said. “He was upset and had a crumpled up T-shirt in his hand. The only thing I remotely wonder about is whether the officer thought he had something wrapped in the shirt for some reason, but that’s not an assumption they can make in their investigation.”

DPS said the incident began about 20 miles away in New Braunfels. The officer attempted to stop Navarro for a traffic violation, but DPS said he led the officer on a high-speed chase.

The chase ended in Converse after DPS said Navarro collided with another car.

DPS has a policy that determines when troopers can pursue someone.

The policy says officers must weigh several factors before starting or continuing a pursuit, including the crime the suspect is being pursued for and the driver’s actions.

“Urgent consideration should be given to abandoning the pursuit, particularly when the identity of the suspect is known, subsequent arrest is possible and there is no immediate threat to public safety other than the danger posed by the crime of evasion,” says the directive.

According to the Bexar County Jail and Criminal Warrants Division, Navarro had an active arrest warrant.

An indictment obtained by KSAT shows Navarro was accused of pointing a gun at a family member in December 2019. Bexar County court records show Navarro has had a dozen charges filed against him over the past two decades. Records show he was found guilty of two offenses including theft and terroristic threats to a family/household.

“Given all of this, do you think the policy was followed?” Ibarra asked.

“Yes, I don’t see any policy violations at all,” LaChapelle said. “The problem is still that there is someone who is known to be prone to violence. Do you have someone running from the police and you’re wondering what they’re running from? It could have been another crime they were worried about.”

KSAT has requested the officer’s body and dashboard camera footage.

DPS has asked the Attorney General’s Office to allow the detention pending the completion of its investigation.

KSAT reached out to DPS spokesman Sgt. Kenny Mata to ask several questions about the shooting but said no further information would be released.