Join us as Chief William McManus shares his perspective on public safety in San Antonio, drawing on nearly two decades leading one of the largest police departments in the state — and as he enters his final year as Chief before retiring in September 2026.
About Chief McManus
Chief McManus has led the San Antonio Police Department since April 2006, making him the longest-serving police chief in the department's history. Prior to SAPD, he served as Chief of Police in Minneapolis (2004–2006) and Dayton, Ohio (2001–2004). Under his leadership, SAPD has emphasized collaboration and a unified approach to public safety across the department, including Parks and Airport Police, while overseeing a sustained drop in crime.
McManus began his law enforcement career in 1975 with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, rising through the ranks to Assistant Chief before leaving in 2001. He is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a master's degree in management from Johns Hopkins University, with additional training at the FBI National Academy and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. McManus and his wife, Lourdes, have three children.
