Trump bashes S.A. mayor over hat reprimands

Video: San Antonio police violate city policy during Donald Trump visit

GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump said Tuesday that San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor “should be ashamed of herself” over the reprimand of San Antonio Police officers who donned Trump hats after escorting him in the Alamo City earlier this month.

Trump made the remark to San Antonio-based talk radio host Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo during an 12-minute taped interview. After discussing polls, the media, Wikileaks, Wednesday’s debate with Hillary Clinton and the “rigged” political system, Trump responded to a question about the police reprimands.

Trump said he was “so sad” to hear about the controversy.

“You can imagine, if they put on a ‘Crooked Hillary’ hat, they would have been just fine,” he said, using his derrogatory nickname for Clinton.

“I assume he’s a Democratic mayor,” Trump continued. Pagliarulo then described Taylor is a female Democrat, although she was elected and serves in a nonpartisan capacity.

Members of the San Antonio Police Department donned "Make America Great Again" hats as Donald Trump left from the San Antonio Airport Oct. 11, 2016. Members of the San Antonio Police Department donned "Make America Great Again" hats as Donald Trump left from the San Antonio Airport Oct. 11, 2016. Photo: Twitter Screenshot Photo: Twitter Screenshot Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Trump bashes S.A. mayor over hat reprimands 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

“Yeah, well, she should be ashamed of herself,” Trump said. The candidate said the officers donned the hats “for a second” for a “quick photo shot.”

“They (officers) are incredible people, incredible brave people. For her (Taylor) to be criticizing them, she should be ashamed of herself,” Trump said again. He repeated the expression a third time before saying “we have tremendous police support all over the country.”

“Many, many forces have done that or similar things,” he added.

In response, city spokesman Jeff Coyle defended officials’ handling of the situation.

“The officers involved violated city policy and were appropriately disciplined. The particular candidate or campaign is irrelevant; San Antonio Police officers must be impartial while on duty,” Coyle said.

Nearly two dozen SAPD officers who escorted Trump during his San Antonio visit Oct. 11 were disciplined Friday for wearing Trump’s “Make America Great Again” hats as Trump was preparing to leave San Antonio International Airport. Six supervisors were issued written reprimands and 17 officers were provided written counseling.

A video posted by Trump’s campaign showed the officers wearing the caps. Wearing political garb on duty is not allowed for officers, officials said.

Police Chief William McManus said the officers’ actions violated the department’s “guiding principals.” Last week, Taylor had no comment on the reprimands, although previously she stated on Facebook she was “deeply disappointed” by the officers’ conduct.

Trump was a phone-in guest on “The Joe Pags Show” on 1200 News Radio WOAI. He was campaigning in Grand Junction, Colo.

jgonzalez@express-news.net

Twitter: @johnwgonzalez