Texas cop fired for ‘vile and disgusting act’ is back on the job in different town

A Texas police officer who was fired for a “vile and disgusting act” has been returned to a law enforcement role in a new city.

Matthew Luckhurst, 42, was fired in 2016 for serving a homeless man a sandwich containing dog poop.

In a separate incident that same year, Luckhurst was accused of smearing brown feces-like substances over a toilet in the only women’s restroom available to female officers.

Despite receiving two indefinite suspensions for his abhorrent behavior, Luckhurst managed to return to the force in 2019 – due to a legal loophole that required discipline within 180 days of the sandwich incident.

The case went to an arbitration hearing in 2020, where San Antonio Police Chief William McManus testified about Luckhurst’s actions.

“This was a vile and disgusting act that violates our guiding principles of ‘treating everyone with integrity, compassion, honesty and respect,’” McManus said in a statement at the time.

Floresville Mayor Cissy Gonzalez-Dippel confirmed he was removed from the position on December 13, 2022.

“Our City Manager, Andy Joslin, is implementing a more stringent hiring policy for all City of Floresville employees. He is also working with Chief Herrera on the Reserve Program,” the mayor told KSAT in a statement.

But now the disgraced former San Antonio police officer has quietly returned to the force — this time patrolling the streets of a small Texas town as part of the Benavides Police Department.

In a separate incident that same year, Luckhurst was accused of smearing brown feces-like substances over a toilet in the only women’s restroom available to female officers.

Benavides Police Chief Andre Hines confirmed the department hired Luckhurst on Tuesday.

In a statement to KSATHines said their decision “highlights the department’s commitment to providing individuals with a second chance to demonstrate their commitment to public service.”

He also highlighted Officer Luckhurst’s “exemplary record” since joining the department – despite the previous allegations.

“Officer Luckhurst’s record since joining the department in April 2023 has been exemplary with no complaints or issues reported,” Hines wrote in the statement.

“Before he was sworn in as a peace officer, a thorough background check was conducted, ensuring all aspects of his history were carefully considered.”

“Officer Luckhurst has consistently maintained that the allegations made against him during his time with the San Antonio Police Department, specifically the incident involving a homeless man, are untrue.”

The disturbing 2016 incident came to light when Luckhurst bragged to a fellow officer that he had collected some feces and stuffed it between two slices of bread before placing the ‘sandwich’ in a Styrofoam container.My San Antonio reported at the time.

Despite two indefinite suspensions for his abhorrent behavior, Luckhurst managed to return to the force in 2019 – due to a legal loophole that required discipline within 180 days of the sandwich incident.

He then placed the container next to a homeless man, police officials said.

The officer reported that he told Luckhurst, a five-year veteran of the force, to go back and throw the container away.

The officer said he saw Luckhurst go back and assumed he had thrown it away, but it has not been confirmed that he did so.

Another officer reported Luckhurst’s actions to his supervisor, who then notified internal affairs of the shocking incident.

The case was investigated and presented to both civilian and sworn review boards, which recommended that Luckhurst be suspended from law enforcement indefinitely.

Police officials said Luckhurst was assigned to the downtown bike patrol for about a year before he was fired.

Police Chief William McManus met with Luckhurst and said “this type of behavior will never be tolerated.”

Now the disgraced former San Antonio police officer has quietly returned to the force

This time he patrols the streets of a small Texas town as part of the Benavides Police Department

“This was a vile and disgusting act that violates our guiding principles of ‘treating everyone with integrity, compassion, honesty and respect,’” McManus said in a statement at the time.

‘The fact that his fellow officers were so disgusted by his actions that they reported him to Home Affairs shows that this type of behavior will never be tolerated.

“The actions of this one former officer in no way reflect the actions of all the other good men and women who respectfully serve this community.”