A Texas police officer who was fired for giving a homeless man a feces sandwich in 2016 was hired in 2023 by another police department that recently defended its decision.

San Antonio police initially suspended Matthew Luckhurst in October 2016 — months after he allegedly put feces on bread into a Styrofoam container and gave it to a homeless man. The indefinite suspension was overturned in March 2019, only for an independent arbitrator to uphold that ruling the following year, noting a June 2016 incident in which Luckhurst defecated in a female-only restroom at the San Antonio Police Department’s Bike Patrol Office and smeared a brown substance representing tapioca on a toilet seat.

READ: Fired Cop Who Allegedly Gave Homeless Man a Feces Sandwich Won’t Get His Job Back, Officials Say

The San Antonio Express-News reported that Benavides police hired Luckhurst in April 2023. Benavides Police Chief Andre Hines said last week that Luckhurst has been “exemplary” with no disciplinary issues. Luckhurst continues to deny that he gave a homeless man a sandwich in 2016, the police chief said.

Luckhurst previously said he gave the tainted sandwich to the homeless man to throw away, not eat.

While Hines noted that an arbitrator sided with Luckhurst, he seemingly overlooked that the second arbitrator reinstated Luckhurst’s firing. The first arbitrator ruled in March 2019 that the department failed to discipline Luckhurst within 180 days of the incident.

Local artist Joshua “Lakey” Hinson called attention to Luckhurst’s latest job on December 24, 2024. Amid backlash, Hines continued to defend Luckhurst’s hiring in a statement issued to KSAT.

“The Benavides Police Department’s hiring of Officer Mathew Luckhurst highlights the department’s commitment to offering individuals a second chance to demonstrate their dedication to public service,” he said. “Looking ahead, Officer Luckhurst is deeply grateful for the opportunity to rebuild trust and serve the community with integrity. His actions moving forward will not only reflect his personal growth and professional dedication but will also positively impact the community he now serves.”

[Feature Photo: San Antonio police]