San Antonio Police Detective Arrested for DWI

Detective Matthew Bennett charged with drunk driving while off-duty in Burnet, Texas

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A San Antonio police detective has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Burnet, Texas while off-duty. The San Antonio Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the incident and placed the detective on administrative duty.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of accountability for law enforcement officers, even when off-duty. Public trust in the police can be eroded by incidents of drunk driving or other misconduct, making it critical that departments investigate such allegations thoroughly.

The details

Detective Matthew Bennett, who has been with the San Antonio Police Department for about 9 years, was arrested on March 13, 2026 by the Burnet Police Department on a charge of driving while intoxicated. SAPD has launched an internal administrative investigation into the incident, while the criminal investigation is being handled by Burnet police.

  • Detective Bennett was arrested on March 13, 2026.

The players

San Antonio Police Department

The police department for the city of San Antonio, Texas.

Matthew Bennett

A detective with the San Antonio Police Department who was arrested for DWI while off-duty in Burnet, Texas.

Burnet Police Department

The police department for the city of Burnet, Texas, which handled the criminal investigation into Detective Bennett's DWI arrest.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Detective Bennett to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of law enforcement officers being held to high standards of conduct, both on and off-duty, in order to maintain public trust in the police.