In a unanimous vote, the San Antonio City Council and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones have formally confirmed Jesus "Jesse" Salame Jr. as the new permanent chief of the San Antonio Police Department. The approval marks a historic milestone for the Alamo City, returning a local native to the head of the municipal police department for the first time in two decades.
The formal vote ratified the appointment made by City Manager Erik Walsh, officially completing the leadership transition for the city’s top law enforcement post. Salame, who has dedicated nearly three decades of service to the department, takes charge of the force after having served in an acting capacity since mid-summer.
In addition to becoming the first homegrown leader of the department in twenty years, the 50-year-old Salame is achieving another major historical distinction. With his confirmation, he becomes only the third Hispanic police chief in the entire recorded history of the San Antonio Police Department.
Although the full council ultimately voted in favor of the appointment, the outcome had been accompanied by questions regarding the mayor’s stance leading up to the vote. Observers and local officials were initially unsure whether Mayor Jones would offer her backing to Walsh’s selection during the scheduled meeting.
Concerns about mayoral support had surfaced after Jones was noticeably absent from a news conference held the previous week to unveil Salame’s nomination. That introductory media event had seen strong representation from the municipal government, drawing eight of the city’s ten council members.
Any lingering doubts regarding the mayor's endorsement were cleared during the session. Jones addressed the council chamber, explaining that she looked forward to confirming Salame following a direct meeting where the two discussed key department issues, including his primary goals, his stance on officer discipline, and his plans for maintaining accountability.
Speaking on the dais, Mayor Jones acknowledged the internal significance of Salame’s advancement within the ranks. She highlighted that seeing an officer who progressed through the department's hierarchy reach the very threshold of being confirmed as chief serves as a meaningful point of personal pride for the entire agency.
Salame brings twenty-seven years of direct law enforcement experience within the municipal agency to his new role. Prior to taking the helm, he served as an assistant chief, holding the second-highest executive rank in the department, and had earlier functioned as chief of staff under the former chief.
The vacancy at the top of the department opened up when former Police Chief William "Bill" McManus elected to accelerate his retirement timetable, moving his exit date forward from late September to July 10. Following that departure, Walsh appointed Salame to lead the force as acting police chief while the city finalized its permanent choice.
McManus had guided the San Antonio Police Department for two decades, serving in the chief position starting in 2006. Before his long tenure in Texas, McManus had led policing efforts in Minneapolis and built a substantial portion of his law enforcement background serving within the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
Salame’s personal history is deeply rooted in the San Antonio area. He was raised in the Los Angeles Heights neighborhood located in Central San Antonio and graduated from nearby Edison High School. His path toward a policing career first took shape during his college studies, when his interest in law enforcement was sparked while enrolled in a criminal justice course at San Antonio College.
The confirmation vote brought a strong showing of personal support to the council chambers, where more than a dozen members of Salame’s family were present. His parents, wife, sons, and siblings observed the deliberations, joining the room in delivering a standing ovation accompanied by cheers and applause as the council finalized the appointment.
Members of the council voiced enthusiasm for having a locally raised officer leading the city’s law enforcement operations. District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo celebrated Salame’s deep local background, describing him as "San Antone to the bone" and noting that his confirmation provides a strong and inspiring example for local public school students across the community.
The council discussions also featured lighthearted reflections regarding the department’s change in leadership. District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia noted with humor that he was glad Salame does not maintain an account on the social platform X, referencing previous controversy surrounding McManus, who had faced scrutiny after sharing discredited social media posts on the platform warning about communist influence in the United States.
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