safety
Former San Antonio cop who fed homeless man shit-filled sandwich gets big promotion
By Michael Karlis at San Antonio Current (alt-weekly)
· June 17, 2026
· 1 min read
The former San Antonio police officer accused of feeding a homeless man a sandwich stuffed with dog feces is now the chief of police of the small South Texas town of Benavides. One-time SAPD officer Matthew Luckhurst was appointed top cop in the town of about 1,100 people on June 1, Benavides Cit...
Key takeaway One-time SAPD officer Matthew Luckhurst was appointed top cop in the town of about 1,100 people on June 1, Benavides Cit...
Why this matters in The San Antonio
The appointment of Matthew Luckhurst as police chief in Benavides raises questions about the vetting process for law enforcement leaders in small Texas towns. Given the seriousness of the allegations against him, it is surprising that Luckhurst was deemed fit to lead a police department, even in a town as small as Benavides. This move may have implications for San Antonio, as it reflects on the city's own police department and its handling of officer misconduct. The fact that Luckhurst was able to secure a prominent law enforcement position despite his past actions may erode trust between law enforcement and the community, not just in Benavides but also in San Antonio. It will be worth watching how the Benavides community responds to Luckhurst's appointment and whether San Antonio's police department will reexamine its own policies for addressing officer misconduct.
About this story
Original reporting by San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The former San Antonio police officer accused of feeding a homeless man a sandwich stuffed with dog feces is now the chief of police of the small South Texas town of Benavides. One-time SAPD officer Matthew Luckhurst was appointed top cop in the town of about 1,100 people on June 1, Benavides Cit...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by San Antonio Current (alt-weekly) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Michael Karlis at San Antonio Current (alt-weekly). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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