The Texas Anti-Gang Unit serving Bexar County will obtain a $3 million state grant to fund a helicopter, increasing the area’s capability to focus on organized crime.
The funding was secured by state Rep. Marc LaHood (R-San Antonio) as a part of the fiscal 12 months 2026 state price range and was allotted by means of Gov. Greg Abbott’s Anti-Gang Pilot Program.
“Equipping our regulation enforcement with the instruments they want sends a transparent message: we is not going to tolerate gangs terrorizing our neighborhoods,” LaHood stated in a press launch. “This $3 million funding is a win for Bexar County and a serious step ahead within the combat in opposition to organized crime.”
What’s the TAG Unit?
The Texas Anti-Gang Unit (TAG) in San Antonio was established in 2017 by means of a grant from the Workplace of the Governor’s Legal Justice Division. It operates as a multi-agency activity pressure made up of native, state and federal regulation enforcement companions.
Its mission? Dismantling and disrupting prison organizations starting from drug cartels and human traffickers to native avenue gangs.
Bexar County has the biggest footprint within the regional TAG middle, with greater than 40 sheriff’s workplace personnel assigned to the trouble.
“It’s all geared towards dismantling massive prison organizations,” stated Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar in a telephone interview. “You’ve acquired everybody from boots-on-the-ground groups to intelligence analysts working collectively.”
Different taking part companies embody the San Antonio Police Division, Texas Division of Public Security and federal entities just like the DEA and FBI. The unit operates throughout jurisdictional traces, helping smaller departments that won’t havegang enforcement sources.
“Typically we’ll come into the town to assist SAPD, different occasions we’ll help departments in smaller communities,” Salazar stated. “We tailor our method relying on what every location wants.”
Why a helicopter?
The brand new helicopter will likely be TAG’s first devoted aerial useful resource. Till now, the unit has relied on plane help from companies like DPS and SAPD.
“This offers us an added dimension,” Salazar stated. “It makes pursuits and surveillance simpler, safer and lots much less detectable.”
Though particular fashions are nonetheless into consideration, the sheriff famous that the $3 million should additionally cowl housing, upkeep and staffing for the helicopter.
“Shopping for the helicopter is definitely the simple half,” he stated. “We’ve acquired to stretch these {dollars} to cowl every little thing.”
The brand new useful resource might shift the dynamic between companies, permitting TAG to offer help quite than request it.
“There could also be different companies on the market that at the moment are going to be leaning on us for that help that beforehand, we’ve needed to attain out to others for. “
Regardless of a lot of the unit’s work taking place behind the scenes, Salazar underscored its day-to-day impression.
“We might not see an enormous drug bust on TV day by day, however I can let you know they’re on the market working, seven days per week, 24 hours a day,” he stated. “These are harmful organizations we’re concentrating on. Any time we are able to get a drug load or weapons off the road, it makes the county that a lot safer.”
