Officer Suspended Over ‘Dog Feces Sandwich’ Incident Now Leads Police Department in South Texas

Police Chief Appointment in Texas Raises Eyebrows

A former police officer, Matthew Luckhurst, has recently been appointed as the police chief in Benavidez, Texas. This decision comes despite having faced suspension from the San Antonio Police Department due to a shocking incident in which he allegedly served a sandwich containing dog feces to a homeless individual. City officials praised his more recent performance as “exemplary,” asserting that a comprehensive background check validated their choice.

Luckhurst’s name appears on the city of Benavidez’s official website as the newly appointed police chief. This move follows about a year and a half after he was initially hired as a board member for the city, as reported by News4SA.

After departing from the San Antonio Police Department in 2016, Luckhurst eventually took on the role in Benavidez. His suspension was linked to the alleged sandwich incident, where he reportedly placed dog feces on bread and offered it to a homeless man, contained in a Styrofoam container.

There has been some buzz, particularly from street artist Joshua “Lakey” Hinson, who posted a video about Luckhurst’s return to law enforcement, adding a layer of community reaction to the situation.

It remains unclear if Luckhurst underwent any psychological evaluation or therapy following the eating incident.

Reports indicate that Luckhurst was dismissed from the San Antonio Police Department in 2020 after two disturbing incidents related to feces, as disclosed by police sources. In a second episode, he was said to have left a mess in the women’s restroom at the department, supposedly in retaliation for a request from a female officer encouraging cleanliness. Though Luckhurst was suspended over the sandwich controversy, he managed to reclaim his position following an arbitration hearing, only to be fired in 2020 due to the restroom incident.

Prior to his current position, Luckhurst had a brief tenure at the Floresville Police Department, where he was hired and subsequently let go.

The chief of Benavidez, Andre Hines, hired Luckhurst as a police officer despite being aware of his past disciplinary issues.

Officials from Benavidez released a statement emphasizing that, in light of past controversies, Officer Luckhurst’s performance since joining their department in April 2023 has been nothing short of exemplary, with no complaints or disciplinary issues brought forward. They confirmed a thorough background check was conducted before Luckhurst was sworn in as a peace officer.