SAN ANTONIO -- Hiring San Antonio's new police chief has taken a controversial turn, as a local group is looking into whether the city broke any laws when it selected the current nominee to head the police department.
Former police chief William McManus has been picked to lead the San Antonio Police Department once again, instead of interim chief Anthony Trevino. While Trevino's supporters may be disappointed, the city said it did nothing illegal during the hiring process.
"Chief Trevino deserves to be the permanent chief," said supporter Henry Rodriquez from the League of United Latin American Citizens [LULAC].
"In the last nine months, he has gone far and beyond the call of duty. He invited us all, LULAC and the NAACP, to the police academy. We learned what the police [officers] go through."
Interim San Antonio Police Chief Anthony Trevino was not at Tuesday's press conference, where supporters from LULAC questioned why city manager Sheryl Sculley passed up Trevino.
They praised Trevino for the community outreach he's done in the nine months since he's been at the helm of the the 3,000 person department.
Former San Antonio Police Chief William McManus was chosen for the job.
He left the police department in 2014 and took a job with CPS Energy.
McManus will be paid $212,000 in his second run as top cop in San Antonio.
"We have nothing against the man," said Sam Alvarado of LULAC. "We respect him, but we do not agree with the process."
LULAC claims McManus' hiring went outside the city's normal hiring practices since McManus didn't have to face a citizen panel and the scrutiny other job applicants did.
"When you announce a vacancy, you have a date that that vacancy announcement expires," said Alvarado. "You cannot apply if you you didn't apply within that period of time."
City spokesperson Jeff Coyle said ultimately it's up to the city manager to appoint the nominee and then up to city council to confirm the candidate.
LULAC is urging city council to vote down McManus' nomination as police chief.
