A former San Antonio, Texas, police officer, Matthew Luckhurst, who was fired for allegedly giving a homeless man a dog feces-filled sandwich, has been rehired as a police officer in a new Texas city.
Luckhurst, 42, gained national notoriety in 2016 when he was accused of placing dog feces between slices of bread, putting it in a Styrofoam container, and leaving it for a homeless man, Complex reports. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus described the act as “vile and disgusting,” leading to Luckhurst’s dismissal from the force. Luckhurst claimed he handed the sandwich to the man to discard, not to eat, and maintained his innocence. The homeless man reportedly never consumed the sandwich.
In the same year, Luckhurst faced another allegation of smearing a feces-like substance on a toilet seat in the women’s restroom at the San Antonio Police Department. He never denied involvement in the restroom incident, The New York Post reports.
Despite his controversial history, Luckhurst briefly returned to the San Antonio force in 2019 after successfully appealing his initial firing. However, a judge later upheld his dismissal in 2020. Luckhurst then found employment as an officer in Floresville, Texas, in 2022, but public outcry led to his termination just 10 months into the role.
In 2023, Luckhurst was hired by the Benavides Police Department, a small city approximately 150 miles from San Antonio. Police Chief Andre Hines defended the decision, stating the hiring “reflects the department’s commitment to honesty and accountability.” Hines also emphasized that a thorough background check was conducted and praised Luckhurst’s record in Benavides as “exemplary, with no complaints or issues reported.”
Critics argue that Luckhurst’s actions demonstrate a lack of judgment incompatible with public service. Supporters, however, point to his clean record in Benavides and argue that everyone deserves a second chance.
