Former firefighters union president tried to dissuade top female firefighter from applying for chief job

SAN ANTONIO — Former president of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association is accused of trying to dissuade the San Antonio Fire Department's highest-ranking woman from applying for fire chief, documents show recently published.

Christopher Steele, 57, was arrested Friday in San Marcos on a felony stalking warrant out of Bexar County.

San Antonio police released documents Wednesday, including a police report and affidavits, showing that SAFD Acting Deputy Chief Valerie Frausto was Steele's alleged victim.

“INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR”

According to the documents, Frausto received text messages and emails in March, purportedly from an “independent investigator” hired by someone applying for the fire chief position. The sender said his name was “Frank” and that he had “faced some concerning allegations,” to which he asked Frausto to respond.

These allegations included that Frausto used his position as fire marshal to order maximum fines imposed at a former associate's business and that there were allegations of physical abuse by another former partner.

Frausto later told police she didn't know what the sender was talking about.

Frausto first received a text message on March 9 telling him to check his email for a message from earlier that day. In that email, the sender warned that “any information provided and the nature of these allegations will be kept strictly confidential and will not be disclosed unless you decide to serve as Fire Chief, in which case it It may be necessary to further evaluate these claims. imported.”

Frausto reported the email to the city attorney's office, which sent “Frank” a cease and desist request on March 13.

The city attorney's office told the sender that the city had not retained them to conduct background checks and that the sender's email address, which included “goodhire,” implied that he worked for the background check company. However, the city's request stated that GoodHire denied any knowledge of “Frank” or his “investigation.”

On March 16, “Frank” sent Frausto another email demanding a response within 24 hours “outlining your action plan to respond to these allegations” and warning that “time is running out.”

Frausto contacted police that night and filed an official report.

On March 22, she received another message from a new email address showing a press release that the sender said would be distributed to national and local media “in the coming weeks.”

On March 27, Frausto received a text message from a new number showing a similar press release template.

Frausto told police she felt intimidated and threatened by the messages and that the sender was trying to coerce her into not applying for the fire chief position.

San Antonio police traced the phone numbers to Steele using Google Voice account information, email addresses associated with those accounts and internet activity information.

MORE MESSAGES

The documents indicate that two other members of the SAFD staff received similar messages from “Frank.” Their messages included allegations that they paid to have union officials shadowed, were responsible for mental health issues among firefighters, made offensive comments in front of civilian city employees and committed sexual harassment.

However, other members of the command are not named in the documents, nor do messages to them appear in the affidavit relating to Steele's accusations.

Police also spoke with another SAFD employee who had received a message from “Frank” asking about allegations of abuse in their relationship with Frausto. That employee, who is ineligible for the chief position, told police he didn't know what the sender was talking about because he never had a relationship with Frausto.

READ MORE: Former San Antonio firefighters union president arrested on stalking charges

FRAUSTO IS THE HIGHEST WOMAN AT SAFD

Frausto is a 23-year SAFD veteran who was named interim deputy fire chief for administrative services in January. This promotion comes after the forced retirement of the former head of the SAFD, Charles Hood, following an investigation into “vulgar” comments he had made, which caused a domino effect within the general staff.

The previous deputy chief was Christopher Monestier, whose appointment as interim fire chief was announced at the same time as Frausto's.

Frausto's previous roles with SAFD include city fire marshal, communications chief and deputy chief for employee wellness and recruitment.

A SAFD spokesperson said Wednesday that Frausto had no comment due to the ongoing investigation.

STEELE RETIRED FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS

During his time as SAPFFA president, Steele was known for his willingness to take on City Hall. Most notably, he led the fire department through a years-long contract battle that played out at the bargaining table, in the courtroom, and at the ballot box.

Under Steele, the firefighters union successfully rallied voters in 2018 to limit the city manager's salary and tenure and to give the union unilateral authority to seek binding arbitration during contract negotiations.

However, this victory quickly turned against the firefighters. After the union invoked its new power in 2019, a panel of arbitrators handed down a contract that fell short of what firefighters had hoped for and which the union is still trying to make up for in its latest negotiations.

Steele retired as battalion chief in August 2021. He left his union leadership position around that time, union officials told KSAT.

Steele is free on bond after being booked into the Hays County Jail on Friday.

He did not immediately respond to a voice or text message Wednesday afternoon.