TEXAS: Retired Chief Rex Rheiner killed by DUI driver Jeanne-Nicole Coutro that slammed into his vehicle; son injured

Jeanne-Nicole Bernice Coutros, 23, is charged with intoxication manslaughter and evading arrest

According to a preliminary report, a San Antonio Police officer spotted a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driving erratically down Nacogdoches Road a little after 9 p.m. Tuesday. The officer activated his emergency lights and tried to pull over the driver, now identified as Jeanne-Nicole Coutros, 23. Reports said Coutros stopped abruptly in the left lane but soon took off as the officer was getting out of his patrol unit.

The SAPD officer then turned off his lights and notified the dispatcher as Coutros sped north on Nacogdoches, police said. Soon after, Coutros veered into oncoming traffic and crashed into a Lincoln SUV turning onto Friesenhahn Court. The 24-year-old driver of the Lincoln was Rheiner’s 24-year-old son. First responders took Rheiner and his son to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where the elder Rheiner passed away from his injuries.

Coutros was also taken to the hospital and is now facing intoxication manslaughter and evading arrest charges. Her bonds have been set at a combined $135,000.

The-SUV-in-which-retired-Converse-Chief-Rex-Rheiner-was-a-passenger-when-it-was-hit-by-a-woman-driving-erratically.

The Converse Police Department issued a letter Wednesday afternoon in regards to the passing of Rheiner: 

Retired-Converse-Police-Dept.-Asst.-Chief-Rex-Rheiner

The Converse Police Department is saddened to learn of the passing of retired Assistant Chief of Police Rodney “Rex” Rheiner. Assistant Chief Rheiner was a valued member of the Converse Police Department and the Converse community as a whole.

Assistant Chief Rheiner served the citizens of Converse for 27 years. Beginning his career in August 1989, he worked his way through the ranks and was promoted to Assistant Chief in May 2007. Assistant Chief Rheiner retired in March 2017.

Assistant Chief Rheiner was a highly regarded leader and he affected the department in many positive ways. Being a graduate of the FBI National Academy and The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, he was could always be found encouraging the officers, pushing them to better themselves and the department through training and education. He invested heavily in upgrading the equipment and technologies of the department and was key in the development of our police department facility and our first communications center.

Assistant Chief was known as a strong man of both faith and family. There would seldom be a time he would speak to you without talking about the accomplishments of his sons or showing you a photograph of his grandchildren.

The loss of any life is sad. The fact that Assistant Chief Rheiner dedicated his life to serving the community as a law enforcement officer only to be killed by a suspected drunk driver while in retirement is truly a tragedy.