San Antonio Officer Struck by Police Car Dies

A San Antonio police officer who was critically injured in a weekend traffic accident when he was hit by another officer's patrol vehicle died Monday evening as officials continued to investigate his colleague's role in the fatal collision.

Officer Robert Davis - who graduated from the police academy a year ago nearly to the day - died Monday after his family removed him from life support at around 3 p.m., officials said.

With his wife and other family members at his side, Davis was pronounced dead at 7:42 p.m., officials said.

"SAPD is deeply saddened by his death and our prayers go out to his family and his friends," Police Chief William McManus said. "There is a pall of sadness over the Police Department right now."

Davis, who is married with no children, was injured Friday in the 9300 block of Potranco Road while clearing roadway flares at the scene of a traffic accident.

Officer David Seaton was driving his patrol car on Potranco to a shoplifting call on Texas 151 when his cruiser struck a car at Hunt Lane.

The collision caused Darrell Lampkin's car to spin out of control while Seaton's car veered to the right and struck Davis, who suffered critical head injuries as he was pinned beneath his colleague's patrol car.

The accident has focused attention on the department's protocol for speeding en route to emergencies.

On Monday, McManus said SAPD will continue to investigate Seaton's speed, whether he disregarded a stop signal and if his emergency lights and sirens had been activated while he was en route to the shoplifting call.

In violation of SAPD policy, Seaton was going more than 90 mph, according to a source familiar with the investigation but not authorized to comment. Seaton's inability to control his speed and his disregard for a stop sign or light were contributing factors in the collision, a supervisor wrote in an incident report.

"The information we know is somewhat preliminary in that the investigation is not finished with yet," McManus said. "The investigation is proceeding forward."

No charges have been filed against Seaton, who has been on the force for 21/2 years.

Whether charges will be filed has "yet to be determined," McManus said.

Though officers are allowed to speed to "code-three" calls, such as shootings in progress or reports of officers in trouble, they must still activate lights and sirens and yield the right of way at stop signs and red lights.

SAPD's General Manuel states that officers responding to "code-two" emergency calls cannot travel more than 10 mph over the speed limit. Code-two calls include requests for services that present a strong potential for personal injury. They require activating emergency lights and coming to complete stops at all traffic control devices.

On Friday, Seaton was responding to a shoplifting call - a "theft in progress" - where two men were reportedly pocketing some sort of "blades" at a Target store.

At the time of the accident, another officer had already arrived at the store, and Seaton's call was considered a "code one," which does not allow speeding.

Still, McManus said police are "looking at the circumstances of the call."

"Those circumstances changed somewhat while the officer was en route," he said.

When the investigation is finished, McManus said SAPD will implement "clarifications" to their policies that govern speeding to emergencies. While defending the department's current protocol, he declined to elaborate on the proposed clarifications.

"We believe that the policies are sound, but we do believe a couple of clarifications are necessary," he said.

In Friday's accident, both Seaton and Lampkin suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries. McManus visited with both at their respective hospitals on Monday, describing Seaton's condition as critical but stable. Lampkin, McManus said, was alert and "gracious, given the circumstances."

Seaton, 43, who is married with children, joined Davis on the force after retiring from the military in recent years. The two worked the same shift - 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. - out of the West Substation and have been described as close friends by colleagues.

Late Monday evening, an employee lowered an American flag to half-staff outside of police headquarters in honor of Davis.

"Each time an officer dies in the line of duty it's a reminder to every officer out there how dangerous it is," McManus said. "It certainly reminds us of our own mortality and how careful we need to be out there.

Funeral Arrangements

Funeral Arrangements

Visitation for Officer Davis will be held Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Porter Loring North Mortuary, 2102 North Loop 1604, San Antonio, Texas.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10:30 a.m. at Bandera Road Community Church, 9431 Bandera Road, San Antonio, Texas.

Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.