A probationary police officer in Texas has been dismissed from her role after she was accused of physically attacking her former boyfriend in the car park of an indoor go-karting venue.
Altercation and Immediate Aftermath
Officer Cora Crocker was terminated from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) just one day after the alleged assault took place. According to an incident report acquired by KSAT, witnesses stated that Crocker struck the man in the face after another woman entered his parked vehicle. The report identified both Crocker and this other woman as 'former significant others' of the alleged victim.
Authorities noted that Crocker appeared to be 'visibly intoxicated' at the time of the incident. She was subsequently arrested and formally charged with assault causing bodily injury-family. Her arraignment is scheduled for next month, and her legal representative has pledged to 'defend her vigorously' against the allegations.
A Pattern of Probationary Officer Issues
An investigation by KSAT revealed that Crocker was the ninth SAPD officer to be arrested this year. Her dismissal occurred mere days after another probationary officer from the same department was also removed from duty.
That officer, Giselle Lopez-Chavez, was terminated on October 27 following an alleged incident of public intoxication at a downtown bar. Records indicate that Lopez-Chavez and her boyfriend were detained on the ground and handcuffed in front of the establishment. During the detention, she allegedly informed the officers that 'she was SAPD'. A photograph from that night showed her outside the bar making an offensive gesture.
Lopez-Chavez was transported to a city sobering unit, while her boyfriend was taken into custody on an unrelated warrant. It does not appear that she has faced criminal charges related to the alleged public intoxication incident.
Departmental Scrutiny and Response
The consecutive dismissals of two probationary officers within a short timeframe have raised questions about the department's hiring and training processes for new recruits. The San Antonio Police Department has been approached for comment regarding these incidents.
The swift termination of Officer Crocker highlights the department's low tolerance for conduct that breaches professional standards, particularly for officers still in their probationary period.
