Experiences of violent crime and property crime decreased final 12 months, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus advised metropolis leaders Tuesday at a public security briefing.
In response to the SAPD report, there was a 2.4% lower in violent crime, corresponding to homicides and intercourse offenses, in 2024. And there was additionally a 7.7% lower in crimes in opposition to property, which incorporates automobile thefts and arson.
Felony mischief, destruction, injury or vandalism, is up 26%, and arrests for “crimes in opposition to society,” which embrace drug or narcotic circumstances and animal cruelty circumstances, are up 1.5%.
McManus stated officer response instances for emergency calls have improved by 24 seconds and non-emergency calls have improved by 2 seconds. In 2024, SAPD obtained 2.2 million calls and responded to 1.8 million of them.
McManus stated enforcement and dealing with the neighborhood helped enhance crime statistics.
However though the numbers present main crime is down, it might not really feel prefer it for individuals residing in numerous components of city, stated District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete-Gavito, who serves on the town’s Public Security Committee.
“In some neighborhoods, it seems like violent crime is up,” she stated.
In response to a UTSA Bexar County Voter Panel Examine revealed in November, voters recognized crime and security as an important downside Bexar County faces right now.
Just lately, residents have been involved about security on San Antonio’s Greenway Path System after a slew of violent crimes together with homicide and arson.
McManus stated the incidents have been remoted, and isn’t conscious of a sample of crime on the paths, which is policed by park police and SAPD.
“These circumstances are turned over to our detectives, and our detectives work them till we clear them,” he stated.
However one problem with reporting crime incidents on the paths is that the town’s neighborhood crime map solely shows knowledge by ZIP code and doesn’t specify if against the law occurred on a path. There are greater than 100 miles of trails throughout the town.
“The issue with these trails is that there’s not an handle on the path, that’s the place there’s a breakdown on getting particular knowledge,” stated SAPD Spokeswoman Michelle Ramos.
McManus stated regardless, SAPD continues to be in a position to detect crime developments in particular areas to handle crime reviews and if there was a sample on the paths, it will be addressed.
“Most individuals will not be affected by violent crime. They’re affected by property crime, and that’s what I hear on the neighborhood conferences,” McManus stated. “They’re offended in regards to the high quality of life of their neighborhoods that’s denigrated by property crime.”
In the previous couple of years, metropolis council has authorized including extra officers to have extra availability to answer calls, stated Maria Villagomez, assistant metropolis supervisor, who was additionally on the public security briefing.
However SAPD can’t attribute crime stat enhancements to a rise in officers — but.
Two price range seasons in the past, council members authorized including officers. McManus stated 117 of these cadets are simply beginning to graduate from the police academy and can quickly start patrolling the streets.
A further 65 patrol officers had been added from the final price range session.
McManus stated SAPD’s violent crime discount program contains place-based policing, which suggests having police presence in sure areas.
However the police division isn’t solely liable for public security, the chief stated; if somebody who has been arrested for an offense is launched pre-trial, and reoffends upon launch once more, it’s tough to to cut back the crime.
“Crime is down, workload is up,” McManus stated.
