Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News

Emilie Eaton

Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter at the Express-News, where she has covered police-community relations, law enforcement training, police misconduct, family violence and the city’s homicide rate. On multiple occasions, her work has led to changes in policies and practices at the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Her work has been honored by the Best of the West contest and the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors’ Excellence in Journalism competition. In 2021, she won a coveted Texas Gavel Award for exposing deficiencies in Bexar County’s criminal justice system. She is a native of northern California.

Stories By Emilie Eaton

S.A. doesn’t want to release Darrell Zemault Sr. death footage

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said video of police killing Darrell Zemault Sr. should be released after the investigation closed. The officers were cleared — but the city doesn’t want to release the video. By Emilie Eaton

Short staffing, red tape puts domestic violence victims at risk

For nearly five months, a city employee repeatedly questioned whether the city was doing enough to help victims. The problem only got worse. By Emilie Eaton

SAPD body cam video of fatal shooting leads to further divisions

Police said Kevin Johnson, 28, reached for a gun in his waistband while they were chasing him, but his family has disputed that account. By Emilie Eaton and Timothy Fanning

Judge: Texas drone law restricts journalists from doing jobs

A federal judge said several portions of a state law that restricted journalists from using drones for photography and newsgathering violated the First Amendment. By Emilie Eaton

30-acre fire near Alamo Ranch 80% contained

Nearly 20 agencies assisted in containing the fire on Monday. No homes are currently threatened. By Emilie Eaton

3 billboards accuse sheriff of understaffing certain areas

The billboards claim the Sheriff’s Office is not adequately staffing certain rural areas of the county. By Emilie Eaton

Man accused of sexually assaulting incapacitated co-worker

The woman told police that she had blacked out, having consumed alcohol after witnessing a traumatic event. By Emilie Eaton

This is how S.A., police union shaped new labor contract

Last time, it took two-plus years to reach a deal. Mounting pressure for police reform, a change in leadership and the threat of rising health care costs changed that. By Emilie Eaton

City, police union reach tentative deal for new contract

The police union will take the proposed contract to its members for a vote, with 51 percent required for approval. The City Council must also approve it. By Emilie Eaton

‘A wonderful career’: Leader of S.A. FBI is retiring after...

Early in his career, Christopher Combs oversaw the FBI’s response to the Pentagon attack on Sept. 11, 2001. That was just the beginning in a string of tragedies he witnessed. By Emilie Eaton

Ex-SAPD officer indicted for firing gun at two teens

Oscar Cruz Jr., 27, faces up to 10 years in prison. By Emilie Eaton

Homicide data is based on Express-News reports and police records. Emilie Eaton, Taylor Pettaway, Ryan Serpico

Man indicted for murder, 3 years after S.A. teenager killed

17-year-old Zachariah Bostic was killed Sept. 13, 2018 during a botched drug deal. By Emilie Eaton

Fired SAPD detective loses bid for reinstatement

Daniel Pue, who had been with the department for nearly 13 years, claimed during an arbitration hearing last year that the woman wanted to get him in trouble. By Emilie Eaton

Part of suit over jail death of mentally ill woman dismissed

Janice Dotson-Stephens was arrested in July 2018 on a misdemeanor criminal trespassing charge. By the time she died five months later, she had lost 136 pounds. By Emilie Eaton

Family violence calls rose 14% in S.A. during COVID lockdown

Researchers said the uptick, from March 27 to May 20, 2020, underscores the need for social service and social welfare agencies to plan for future pandemics or other major disasters. By Emilie Eaton

S.A. domestic violence advocate to chair statewide nonprofit

Marta Prada Peláez was appointed to be board chairwoman of a statewide nonprofit based in Austin that advocates for victims and survivors of domestic violence. By Emilie Eaton

Man who beat, choked girlfriend dodged a conviction and jail time

Lori Rodriguez needed 12 stitches to close a gash in her head. Her abuser got probation. By Emilie Eaton

Incarceration rates in Bexar County up, unlike most cities

Over the past several decades, incarceration rates have declined in many major cities, rising instead in rural communities. That wasn’t the case in the San Antonio area. By Emilie Eaton

Reward grows, search for missing 3-year-old Afghan girl expands

A reward for “information that successfully helps find” Lina Sardar Khil had grown to $85,000. Taylor Pettaway, Emilie Eaton