Multiple San Antonio Firefighters Were Relieved of Duty for Conduct Violations

Numerous San Antonio Fire Department employees were relieved of duty recently after arrests and infractions put them at odds with departmental standards of conduct.

Firefighter Casey Ross was indefinitely suspended without pay starting Dec. 20 after he was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated and possession of dangerous drugs, according to suspension records from the city.

Ross was arrested July 3 after being involved in an off-duty traffic accident in the drive-thru of an unnamed fast-food restaurant. Witnesses at the scene called 911 because Ross was unresponsive in the driver's seat of his vehicle with the keys in the ignition, according to the records.

Medics administered Narcan, which is used to treat narcotics overdoses.

When law enforcement officers searched Ross' vehicle, they found a clear plastic bag with multiple small, blue pills that were later identified as opiates. In his system, officials found fentanyl — a synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration — along with a muscle relaxant, an antihistamine and a sedative.

The SAFD said Ross lacked moral character and violated the department's policies regarding conduct and behavior.

Another firefighter was suspended without pay after he was caught allegedly drunk driving.

Off-duty firefighter Nicholas De La Cruz was arrested July 30 after he was pulled over by San Antonio police in the 3000 block of North St. Mary's Street.

Officials said De La Cruz was driving without headlights on and drove on top of a curb and came to a stop in a grassy area off the roadway, suspension records showed.

The firefighter smelled of alcohol, and he had bloodshot, glassy eyes and slurred speech. He also admitted to having three beers within the hour, records said. De La Cruz's blood alcohol level was 0.139 percent; a person with a level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated.

Officials also indefinitely suspended engineer John Williams after he incurred multiple disciplinary infractions over three months.

Williams started his suspension Dec. 16.

Suspension records show that on July 2, Williams "went AWOL" — failing to report for duty and remaining absent for more than 18 days before providing leave notification.

About two months later, Williams operated a department vehicle, despite a direct order prohibiting him from driving any SAFD or city vehicle.

Then on Sept. 27, Williams reported 45 minutes late for duty in the morning before immediately leaving and not returning for an hour, according to records.

And three days later, Williams failed to attend a mandatory training.

Williams' disciplinary record shows that he had been suspended in March 2021 and April 2021 for 14 days and 90 days, respectively.

Officials said Williams violated several department orders, including conduct and behavior, insubordination, absence policies and obeying lawful orders.

[email protected] — @TaylorPettaway

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