A San Antonio police detective has been pulled off the streets and placed on indefinite suspension without pay after an internal affairs investigation concluded he used on-duty time to meet people at hotels and engaged in sexual conduct while he was supposed to be working.
Detective Raul Tijerina Jr., badge No. 2200, is now off active duty as the San Antonio Police Department's disciplinary process plays out. Department paperwork states that allowing him to remain in office would be detrimental to effective law enforcement.
According to a suspension report published by News4SanAntonio, the order was issued under Title 5, Subtitle A, Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code and cites Internal Affairs case IA2025-2197. The report lists alleged violations including neglect of duty, acts showing a lack of good moral character, and conduct prejudicial to good order. It also notes that the suspension is effective immediately and without pay.
Department rules at issue
The allegations are tied directly to department rules that bar sexual conduct while on duty and require officers to use their shifts for official work. As outlined in the SAPD General Manual, Section 3.36 prohibits sexual conduct while on duty and Section 4.06 prevents members from devoting on-duty time to activities unrelated to their assignments. The manual defines "sexual conduct" by reference to the Texas Penal Code and treats such behavior as a serious disciplinary matter.
What investigators say they found
The suspension report states that investigators reviewed hotel reservation logs, payroll records and credit-card statements that link Tijerina to multiple hotel visits during his scheduled shifts. La Quinta records list entries on June 3 and 10, 2024, Oct. 4, Nov. 12 and Nov. 20, 2024. Candlewood Suites records reportedly show visits from July through December 2024 and two dates in January 2025. Payroll records indicate he was scheduled from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on those days, and Citibank statements allegedly show hotel charges from April through December 2024, according to News4SanAntonio.
What happens next
Under Texas civil-service law, the police chief may indefinitely suspend an officer for cause, and that officer has the right to appeal to the city's Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission, as detailed in the Texas Local Government Code. An appeal triggers an administrative hearing that can result in a written ruling or arbitration by the commission. Those proceedings run on their own track, separate from any criminal investigation, and follow established timelines and procedures.
Pattern in recent discipline
SAPD disciplinary records in recent years have included other cases in which officers were punished for leaving their shifts or spending on-duty time away from assigned duties, and local coverage has raised questions about whether discipline is applied consistently. Reporting by KSAT documented similar internal investigations and public concern over how the department enforces its own rules. Advocates for accountability say the pattern in the records merits sustained oversight.
Tijerina remains on indefinite suspension as the internal process moves toward a conclusion, and he can still exercise his appeal rights under civil-service rules. The findings in the suspension report will guide any final discipline or potential reinstatement. Hoodline has requested comment from the San Antonio Police Department and will update this story if the department responds.
