A San Antonio police officer was fired after officials say he took two shotguns and one handgun forfeited by residents during a city gun buyback program and placed them in his personal vehicle.

The two shotguns were never recovered, according to a source familiar with the investigation. It’s not clear if the handgun was ever found. 

Officer David Mahula, an 18-year veteran of the force, was issued an indefinite suspension, which is tantamount to firing, on May 9 for allegedly breaking a handful of department administrative rules, according to disciplinary records.

Mahula, in an appeal filed May 10, denied the allegations and asked for an arbitration hearing as outlined in the city’s contract with the police union. Mahula is seeking back pay and lost benefits. 

READ MORE: San Antonio councilman plans to propose local gun-exchange program

The records allege that Mahula was working the city-sponsored event on Nov. 19 when Bryan Naylor, an aide who works for District 9 Council Member John Courage, watched Mahula place what appeared to be two shotguns in his personal vehicle. 

Naylor later reported what he saw to Courage, who spoke to City Manager Erik Walsh. Walsh forwarded the information to SAPD, prompting an investigation by detectives with the Chief’s Integrity Detail, which investigates possible criminal offenses committed by officers. 

"I was concerned about maintaining the purpose and integrity of the Voluntary Weapons Exchange program," Courage said, explaining his decision to contact Walsh.

Mahula, in an interview with detectives the following month, admitted that placing two rifles and a World War II-era Colt 1911 handgun in his vehicle, saying he wanted to safeguard the firearms until they could be separated due to their “historical significance,” the records state. 

He also admitted to taking several boxes of surrendered ammunition to be destroyed at the Training Academy’s Firearms Range, where Mahula was assigned. Detectives found nine boxes of ammunition in Mahula’s vehicle, the records state.

An attorney for Mahula was not immediately available for comment.

READ MORE: San Antonio residents can trade guns for H-E-B gift cards at first-ever Alamodome event

Mahula provided detailed descriptions of the rifles, and rifles matching those descriptions were found in the property room. But detectives later determined those guns were not the ones that Mahula had taken, the records state. 

Shortly after Mahula gave his initial statement, Naylor was shown photographs of the two rifles Mahula described, the records state. Naylor told detectives that the guns he saw Mahula place in his vehicle appeared to be shotguns, not rifles. 

Detectives also reviewed police dashboard camera footage that was taken from officers’ patrol vehicles. That footage showed Mahula placing shotguns into his personal vehicle — not rifles, the records state. 

The footage also helped detectives track down a resident, James Norman, who stated that he had turned in two shotguns during the event: a Ruger 20-gauge shotgun and a Remington 12-gauge shotgun. 

In the footage, Norman can be seen forfeiting the shotguns around the same time Mahula placed the two long guns in his vehicle. It also showed Mahula placing multiple handguns into a collection bin and walking off with one of the handguns, and later, a holster. 

Two SAPD officers working at Mahula’s tent during the event told detectives they had questioned Mahula about a U.S. government-issued Colt handgun they heard was being turned in. 

“One of these officers reported that Officer Mahula responded to their inquiry by placing a finger over his lips, and the other officer reported that Officer Mahula made a facial expression that the officer interpreted as ‘be quiet,’” the records state.

READ MORE: San Antonio’s gun buyback nets hundreds of firearms — amid some sidewalk sales

Investigators found two Colt handguns in SAPD's property room, but it was not clear whether one of those weapons was the one Mahula was seen putting in his vehicle, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The shotguns were never found. 

McManus, in the disciplinary records, alleged Mahula broke four SAPD rules and regulations, including those that require officers to be truthful, obey lawful orders, serve the public and exhibit good conduct and behavior. 

Detectives also investigated whether Mahula committed a crime, but after consulting with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, determined his actions didn’t meet the legal standard, according to a source familiar with the investigation. 

The gun buyback program was championed by Courage, who had wanted to hold such an event since 2017 but previously couldn’t find the funding. The idea gained traction after the Uvalde school shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.

The North Side council member, who is running for mayor in the 2025 city election, accumulated $100,000 in his discretionary funds to help pay for the program, but his office said in June that the project needed to raise about $150,000 more. To help support the event, the San Antonio Area Foundation established a fund to accept tax-deductible contributions. 

In total, organizers collected around 933 weapons in exchange for around $160,000 in gift cards. 

The San Antonio Police Department is examining all the forfeited weapons, and those that can’t be traced to a legal owner will be destroyed and used to create a public art project. If a weapon is traceable and found to have been stolen, officials said they will return the weapon to its legal owner. 

Courage is planning another gun buyback event for this November. He’ll again use some of his office's discretionary funds and is seeking public and private donations to help cover the cost.

“I have spoken with SAPD Command Leadership about holding an advanced review session outlining all participants' roles and expectations to initiate a better process for tracking surrendered weapons,” Courage said in a statement.

Staff writers Molly Smith and Melissa Manno contributed to this report.