San Antonio Firefighters Union Censures Chief Frausto Over THC Firing, Pay Raises

San Antonio's firefighter union has taken its grievances against Fire Chief Valerie Frausto to the national stage, voting unanimously to censure her at the International Association of Firefighters' biennial convention in Arlington. The San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, also known as IAFF Local 624, says a pattern of disciplinary and pay disputes has produced what its censure resolution calls a substantial loss of confidence among members in Frausto's leadership.

The censure covers a San Antonio Fire Department that employs more than 1,800 firefighters and paramedics, and it lands less than two years into Frausto's tenure as the department's first female chief. As reported by KSAT, the resolution bundles together disciplinary, policy and pay issues that union leaders say have compounded over time. Reporters Garrett Brnger and Dillon Collier detailed the specific cases behind the vote.

The Case That Sparked It: A Firefighter's THC Prescription

Among the incidents cited in the resolution is that of a firefighter allegedly forced out of the department over prescribed THCA use. According to the union contract, a THCA result tied to a valid prescription should not be treated as a positive drug test, but the resolution says one firefighter was not allowed back on the job after testing positive despite holding a valid prescription and was required to stay off work until testing negative. The city categorized that firefighter, identified in Hoodline's earlier coverage of the THC dispute as Zachary Crumley, as having voluntarily resigned.

That framing has drawn outside scrutiny. Twelve Texas state lawmakers sent a letter to city officials this year expressing serious concerns over Crumley's forced resignation, according to the research record tied to the dispute, since Texas' Compassionate Use Program allows physicians to prescribe low-THC cannabis for qualifying conditions but includes no statutory job protections for first responders. A Bexar County district judge denied the union's request for a temporary injunction to block the city from placing firefighters on leave over positive THC tests tied to that program back in May, before the fight moved to the national convention floor.

Modified Duty and an Out-of-County EMS Call Also Cited

The resolution also points to a policy Frausto approved that reduced protections for firefighters needing modified or alternate duty, which the union says violated its contract with the city. One SAFD member cited in the resolution was denied a modified-duty assignment and instead used personal leave rather than alternate duty for what the union describes as a protected post-childbirth medical condition.

A separate case involves an SAFD paramedic who received an indefinite suspension, which the union treats as tantamount to a firing, after picking up his wife from an out-of-county car crash for evaluation. The resolution notes that Wilson County ESD did not file a complaint or claim an improper transfer of care in that incident. A settlement agreement in the matter required the paramedic to admit the allegations were true.

Pay Raises for Command Staff Add Fuel

Money is also part of the union's complaint. The city implemented a 15% pay raise for assistant and deputy chiefs outside the normal collective-bargaining process, a move the union sees as sidestepping negotiated pay structures. The current union contract, which runs through September 2027, sets a baseline requiring appointed assistant chiefs to earn at least 15% above a district chief's base salary plus 30 years of longevity — meaning the union argues any additional raise for command staff should have gone through bargaining rather than being unilaterally implemented.

Union and City Response

Local 624 president Joe Jones summarized the censure in a video message sent to department members, praising what he described as Frausto's talent, dedication, strategy, intelligence, compassion and determination even as he backed the no-confidence vote. A SAPFFA spokeswoman declined to comment further when asked about the resolution.

The city has pushed back firmly. A city spokeswoman said the censure action was wrong on the merits and carried no formal authority, while City Manager Erik Walsh has said he retains full confidence in Chief Frausto and her team. San Antonio City Council confirmed Walsh's choice of Frausto as chief in a unanimous vote on October 31, 2024, capping a 24-year career within SAFD in which she served in nearly every division, including as lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and fire marshal. She succeeded former Chief Charles Hood, who was forced to retire in January 2024 after an internal investigation into inappropriate comments about women.

A National Pattern of Union Censures

San Antonio's dispute is not unique this convention season. IAFF delegates passed 15 censure resolutions unanimously in Arlington, including one against Maryland U.S. Representative Andy Harris over his voting record on firefighter benefits, according to the similar censure vote against Annapolis officials. The international union represents roughly 365,000 members across the United States and Canada, and its constitution requires affiliate unions to submit supporting documentation to the General President at least 60 days before the biennial convention — meaning Local 624 had been building its case well ahead of the Arlington vote.

The censure issues remain part of ongoing legal challenges or grievance procedures, and San Antonio is set to return to the bargaining table with the union, with new contract discussions likely beginning in January or February 2027. Beyond the labor fight, SAFD has also testified before the Joint Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding in Kerrville, where Frausto asked lawmakers to create a state emergency fund for local governments when disasters do not meet federal assistance thresholds. Female firefighters made up about 6% of SAFD's uniformed personnel as of late 2024, slightly above the national career average of 5%, a milestone the department has highlighted through its Hero Like Her recruitment initiative even as the union dispute plays out.