SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio police officer named Rafael Morado was fired this past summer after he crashed into another patrol car while responding to an emergency call. The investigation revealed that Morado acted recklessly and was dishonest about the incident, which led to his termination.
Morado, who had been with the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) for three years, received an indefinite suspension on May 26. This suspension was due to violations of department rules concerning emergency vehicle responses and the truthfulness expected from officers.
On December 29, while driving a marked patrol unit, Morado ignored six red lights and drove at speeds that were twice the legal limit. According to police records, the situation was serious enough that the call he was responding to—designated as code-two—did not allow for such reckless driving.
While rushing to the scene, Morado collided with another officer’s patrol vehicle at the intersection of Brady Boulevard and South Calaveras Street. Surprisingly, neither officer reported the crash to a supervisor and instead continued on their way to the emergency call.
The SAPD only learned about the crash 13 days later. This was after another officer discovered that the vehicle he was assigned to had damage. It wasn’t until January 12, during a roll call, that Morado finally admitted to the crash after a supervisor inquired about any vehicle damage reports.
Initially, Morado claimed he had hit a curb. However, when filling out a vehicle damage form later, he became unsure and wrote that he wasn’t certain if he had struck the other patrol car or the curb instead.
As of now, it is unclear if the other officer involved in the crash faced any disciplinary action. This incident has sparked discussions about accountability and safety among police officers, especially regarding how they respond to emergency situations.
