Records: Fired SAPD officer failed to report crashing into patrol vehicle, was untruthful during questioning

Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Dillon Collier, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · July 22, 2026 · 2 min read

A San Antonio police officer was terminated this summer after an investigation revealed he crashed into another patrol vehicle while driving erratically to a scene and was then untruthful about the wreck. Officer Rafael Morado, a three-year veteran of SAPD, was handed an indefinite suspension May...

Why this matters in The San Antonio

The termination of Officer Rafael Morado raises questions about the culture of accountability within the San Antonio Police Department. The fact that Morado and the other officer involved in the crash failed to report the incident and instead continued to respond to the call suggests a lack of transparency and a possible attempt to avoid scrutiny. The discrepancy in Morado's accounts of the crash, first blaming a curb and then expressing uncertainty, further erodes trust in the officer's truthfulness. As the city continues to grapple with issues of public safety and police accountability, the handling of this incident will be closely watched. The fact that SAPD supervisors only learned of the wreck 13 days later, after another officer reported the damage, also highlights the need for more robust internal reporting mechanisms. The outcome of any potential disciplinary action against the other officer involved will be particularly noteworthy.

About this story

Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). 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 KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: safety · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · Reading time: 2 min

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This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.

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Summary created by	The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Dillon Collier, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 22, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Records: Fired SAPD officer failed to report crashing into patrol vehicle, was untruthful during questioning

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