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Alamo City has a new top cop. On Wednesday, September 2, City Manager Erik Walsh announced Assistant Chief Jesus "Jesse" Salame will now lead the San Antonio Police Department, capping off a nationwide search after former Chief William McManus retired in July.

A lifelong San Antonian, Salame joined SAPD in June 1999 and has spent nearly three decades climbing the ranks. In a Wednesday press conference, Walsh said his career trajectory and emphasis on internal and community relationships were the deciding factors in the appointment.

"I have the utmost confidence in Jesse's ability to lead the San Antonio Police Department in its mission to improve quality of life in San Antonio by creating a safe environment in partnership with the people they serve," Walsh said in a statement, adding that Salame's approach to building trust and transparency made him "the ideal choice to lead the police department into the future."

Salame became deputy police chief in December 2022, taking on chief of staff duties and oversight of Internal Affairs, the Training Academy, the Public Information Office, and Open Records. During his time on that job, he helped launch SAPD's Officer Wellness Unit. He played a role in the department becoming the first law enforcement agency in the country to earn Level 1 Foundational Trauma-Informed Care Organizational Certification. He also served as the department's LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer and oversaw recruitment efforts.

In 2024, Salame moved up to assistant chief of the Operations Support Bureau, taking charge of specialized units including Homicide, the Special Victims Unit, Covert Operations, the Fusion Center, the Mental Health Unit, and SA CORE. He also represented SAPD on a multi-agency committee focused on mental health diversion, working with leaders to expand behavioral health response and improve outcomes for people dealing with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, or substance use issues. He's been serving as acting police chief since July 11.

According to a release, the search that led to Salame’s appointment stretched across several stages and pulled in citizen feedback, including two community panels chosen by the mayor and City Council members, a panel of community stakeholders, and a panel of 12 randomly selected SAPD employees. Walsh and Deputy City Manager María Villagómez then met individually with the top finalists before settling on Salame.

City Council is set to formally confirm the appointment on September 10.