Graham Media Group's KSAT12 Defenders team has spent years uncovering, digging and researching to discover several instances of misconduct within the police department in San Antonio, the area which it serves.

The investigation culminated in the news team being honored with a regional Emmy award for Best News Special, KSAT12 News Director Bernice Kearney announced.

The Defenders, led by Executive Producer David Raziq and Chief Investigator Dillon Collier, took a raw, no-holds-bar look at disciplinary actions within the San Antonio Police Department.

The team also uncovered the ongoing misconduct of some officers who returned to their jobs months after their infractions. Many of the arbitration clauses in the police union's contract were cited as the reasons for the appearance of special treatment given to the officers who won their jobs back, some of whom returned and allegedly got into more trouble.

The investigation resulted in the city manager and the head of the police union explaining why the arbitration clauses existed, and how they might impact future contract negotiations between the city and the police union.

In addition to Raziq and Collier, KSAT12 anchors Steve Spriester and Tim Gerber, photojournalists Josh Saunders and Dale Keller, editor Dominic Lawrence and Graphics Artist Henry Keller were all recognized for their roles in producing the prime time report by the Lone Star Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

“We couldn’t be more proud of the hard work of our Defenders team as they uncovered and shined the spotlight on disturbing practices within the SAPD,” said KSAT12 Vice President and General Manager Phil Lane. “It’s our job to hold those in positions of power accountable to the people they serve. We will continue to do so when we find discrepancies within a public entity.”