Fourth accident this year following a forced mandatory overtime shift at the BCSO

San Antonio, TX — On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Deputy Zoie Kelly, 36-weeks pregnant, asked permission to leave work early. She had been able to get only 5 hours of sleep since her prior shift of 17.25 hours at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. While driving home, she fell asleep and crashed her car, resulting in 2 fractures to her spine and several broken teeth. Upon her arrival at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAAMC), medical professionals conducted an emergency C-section to deliver her baby who had also suffered a broken shoulder blade.

This is the fourth vehicular accident involving a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy due to exhaustion. The overwhelming majority of deputy sheriffs at the county jail are forced to work overtime, including pregnant females. These pregnant deputies are exposed to physical and mental health hazards, often working in male units where at least one deputy is assaulted daily. Deputy Kelly had not been employed long enough to benefit from Bexar County’s family medical leave policy.

“We are praying for Deputy Kelly and her newborn baby,” says Ron Tooke, President of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County. “But I wish we didn’t have to. I thought that, after three of these accidents in one year, county officials would have gotten the message that forced mandatory overtime is killing our deputies. This is inexcusable.”

Deputy Kelly and her child are still receiving medical assistance for their injuries at SAMMC.