On 6/10/20, off-duty SMPD Sgt. Ryan Hartman sped down a one-lane gravel road, 50% over the speed limit, past two stop signs, and slammed his truck into my vehicle, killing my life partner, Jennifer Miller.
He had an open 24oz can of Dos Equis in his cup holder, refused to prove his sobriety at the scene, and it took over three hours to get a blood search warrant, tainting the accuracy of all blood evidence.
As a sergeant who performed DWI sobriety tests, Hartman knew how to cheat protocol.
A two-month investigation by Lockhart Police Department charged Hartman with criminally negligent homicide, but the D.A. substituted his own opinion and presented it to the grand jury as “distracted driving.”
I doubt he showed them bodycam footage of Hartman confessing, “I caused the death of someone by me not paying attention.”
There was no indictment, and three years later, I am still fighting for justice.
On the anniversary of Jennifer’s death, I held a peaceful vigil to honor her life. SMPD Chief Standridge appeared, uninvited, and claimed his hands were tied due to the 180-day statute of limitations for investigating wrongdoing by officers having expired by the time he joined the department – a lie.
In the last years of fighting for Jen, I’ve learned the very people tasked with upholding the law are often not held to the same standard.
I proposed the Hartman Reforms on the 2-year anniversary of Jen’s death because I don’t want anything resembling this tragedy to happen again.
There needs to be transparency and civilian oversight. There should be no time limit on investigating wrongdoing. Officers should not give up vacation time rather than serve a suspension. A suspension means you leave the building and take that time to consider the ramifications of your actions and how it impacted the department, the city, and victims. It’s an officer safety issue!
Officers should know their backup is mentally fit for duty. The chief should reinterview the suspended officer to ensure they’re not a danger to themselves, other officers, or the public, and are fully in control of their emotions – convinced the suspended infraction won’t be repeated.
The police association refused to implement the Hartman Reforms the first time, so we launched a petition to repeal their Meet & Confer agreement and give them a second chance to do it right.
It is absolutely shameful that instead of using this second opportunity to implement these common- sense reforms, they made changes so minimal it makes you wonder how they weren’t already doing that before!
How were letters of reprimand not already weighed into consideration for promotions?!?!
This Tuesday at 6 pm, City Council will vote on the new Meet & Confer agreement.
It is my hope the people of San Marcos will show up and help us make it clear to city leadership that this contract does not meet demands for more accountability.
We will meet outside City Hall at 5 pm for pizza and poster making.
I am very pro-law enforcement, but when infractions occur, there should be accountability.
It is my hope that SMPD and city officials live up to their oaths by learning from their mistakes.
