SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- The San Antonio police chief said more than a dozen officers will face disciplinary action after appearing in a video with Donald Trump shaking hands and wearing his signature "Make America Great Again" hats.
Police Chief William McManus said the officers exercised poor judgment by appearing to endorse a political candidate while in uniform and on duty.
"SAPD officers are charged with protecting the entire community," McManus said in a statement released on the city's official Twitter account. "The officers displayed poor judgment. I expect them to know better than to give the appearance of endorsing a candidate while in uniform, regardless of the political campaign or candidate."
The officers in question were members of the department's motorcycle unit and had been assigned to escort the Republican nominee's motorcade from the airport to a fundraising event in San Antonio and back. Trump's campaign shot video of him talking with the officers on the tarmac and taking pictures with them.
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San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor told the San Antonio News Express she was deeply disappointed in the officers' judgment.
Mike Helle, the president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, told the paper the cops in the video should have known "you can't do that kind of stuff while on duty."
Helle said the infraction was "benign" and it's unlikely anyone will be seriously disciplined. He said the incident would most likely prompt a written warning or mandatory counseling on department procedure.
Thank you Texas! If you haven't registered to VOTE- today is your last day. Go to: https://t.co/HfihPEA3Sp & get out on 11/8/16 to #MAGA! pic.twitter.com/KlRx4GoO64
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 11, 2016
