Hill Country Chronicle

Rep. Chip Roy of Texas has reached out to Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales with concerns over bail reform policies that may have allowed a violent criminal to be released, leading to an incident where seven San Antonio police officers were injured on January 22.

In his letter, Rep. Roy expressed serious concerns: "I write today with serious concerns regarding the recent incident in which an individual – with a lengthy criminal history who was released on bail – fired upon law enforcement, injuring seven San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) officers. This incident appears to be another example where lax criminal justice policies, including bail reform, have threatened the safety of Bexar County residents and our law enforcement officers."

Rep. Roy highlighted previous instances of concern, noting: "The Poulos shooting was not an isolated incident of lax bail policies. On August 31, 2023, I sent you a letter about your office’s bail policy related to the release of Jesse Garcia Jr., another dangerous individual who also had an extensive criminal record and shot three SAPD officers. Moreover, during your tenure, there have been countless other cases of career criminals being granted bond and subsequently released, only for them to re-offend."

He further addressed the role of the District Attorney's office in these matters: "While the District Attorney’s office does not set bond amounts or determine whether bail is denied to defendants, it does have influence in advocating for higher bond amounts and can suggest denying bail for individuals. In the same letter, I raised the question of whether you direct prosecutors to push for appropriate bonds or recommend no bail at all for dangerous, career criminals. As of February 2025, you have yet to respond to the questions in the August 2023 letter."

For those interested in more details, Rep. Roy's full letter is available online.