Texas Captain Suspended for Waiving Handgun at Work

A captain with the San Antonio Fire Department has been suspended indefinitely for pointing a handgun at colleagues. Captain Rogelio Loredo admitted to waiving the pistol at two firefighters, but told investigators he was “just joking around.”

The incident reportedly occurred during a shift change on February 22, 2022. Captain Loredo was in his personal vehicle at the time and the two members were in the vicinity of the bay doors. When they saw the gun, they moved out of sight. The San Antonino Express News quoted from the SAFD suspension report that stated “Loredo was upset that day.”

Captain Loredo initially reported that the weapon was an airsoft gun, but later acknowledged it was a semi-automatic pistol. He was found to have violated a number of departmental policies warranting the indefinite suspension without pay, which is a polite way that folks in Texas refer to terminated. More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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