[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6634540,"mediaKeyId","2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a","parentId",2663854,"title","UTSA evaluation: targeted policing strategy tied to declines in violent crime in year two, presenters say","audioSeconds",334,"startMs",1545000,"endMs",1879000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a&start=1545&end=1879","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634540/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/UTSA-evaluation-targeted-policing-strategy-tied-to-declines-in-violent-crime-in-year-two-presenters-say","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634540-bf57449d64b01cfb9519ebdc78b0eb85/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172242&Signature=nRqT4Ru5ISALbg0~FCBYULSkWSdusHqRY5v-FR4F0W08WYVbqc1OL2shEnJ6JJUm-5dxd-iq~e35iWH08GwabDJjyrvyqHSEgPeo-rU5BYVq6eEXN-ZSPqNTozs6BxrBGVoTWUVUZRe6RhT2fwkErT3Tr9pR~lkV5xqYzl4O1xuh-LTl~13YTEpzE7ffWxCqP-RZE0qlWejzfiEwI00-1Xk8NpgMiZqHQVFWWuCQi9HVJULWkpMJUTtfhpqeVuSUWkqF52nwbxkDtEZ0PXA1dY6q996We1acYLEPmKtA9QrzBpijL935jwHJyZIYCdbJ0xCiI-vhEhPb3hlkhUVE5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","UTSA researchers and San Antonio Police Department staff on Feb. 8 presented the second-year evaluation of a targeted violent-crime reduction plan the city began in January 2023. The presenters said the evaluation focuses on 2024 (year two) and shows declines in several violent-crime measures in areas where the strategy was applied.

Dr. Smith, presenting on behalf of UTSA, said the plan uses a three-pronged approach: increase police visibility in prioritized hot spots, address underlying drivers at persistent crime locations, and focus enforcement on a relatively small number of high-risk individuals. The evaluation compared year-two (2024) figures to the prior year and to a multi-year trend.

Dr. Smith reported a roughly 9.6% citywide reduction in street-incident violent crime for 2024 relative to the prior year and a 22.4% reduction in the targeted focus areas. Homicides were reported as about 20% lower in the year-two comparison; some categories, such as robberies at businesses, showed little change. Dr. Smith said aggressive visibility treatments combined with foot patrols produced a larger decrease — the presentation cited a 38.1% decline where visibility-plus-foot-patrol treatments were used. Arrests for firearms-related offenses were reported to have decreased by about 44% in the cited period; arrests for violent offenses tied to individuals with prior reports were also noted as down significantly.

The presenters described a multidisciplinary operational approach in specific pilot locations, including a detailed effort in an area on Rixby Avenue (described by presenters as a high-ranked focal area). A multidisciplinary team issued 19 recommendations for that location; presenters said 14 of those recommendations were fully or partially implemented and that staff measured conditions before and after interventions over six-week treatment cycles.

Presenters cautioned that significant challenges remain. Dr. Smith highlighted that domestic-violence metrics did not improve and require further work. Councilmembers pressed the staffing question: one speaker recalled a planned increase of 65 officers over three years in the city budget, and another councilmember said the city needs more than that. Councilmember White urged that adding officers be a budgetary priority and said he would press the matter with the City Council.

No formal committee action was taken on the evaluation; presenters said the city and police will continue to identify additional focus areas and report back on implementation steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Comité de Seguridad Pública - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","UTSA researchers and police staff presented a year-two evaluation of San Antonio's targeted violent-crime reduction plan, reporting declines in several violent-crime metrics in 2024 and identifying areas needing further work, including domestic violence and sustained resources.","taxTitle","San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",2771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634545,"Committee discusses mailbox thefts; staff to pursue immediate lighting fixes and convene working group",848,609000,1457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a&start=609&end=1457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a/thumbnail_609000.jpg","/articles/6634545/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-discusses-mailbox-thefts-staff-to-pursue-immediate-lighting-fixes-and-convene-working-group","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634545-3ac1707bc3dd26357daf9b7ecc5eb855/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172242&Signature=XMxfDWLKNyM2vZpWPFJ2B8YhuTcdgkPYp-N5bg5m5bwzdEgoiLqlOLHVtLi2asi1X~Oz~jAoLM~wou4OB2EMmwd8TVTCoAolt6D5~410evlO7S~sbs010CXr6xJV7hKhfjZag7BV5jvFupl~jDPiFa3Euj32HJJh-UMVC-RlnG9yDq8~BneTZ6lnC1jaqAApACeNFpSHaUu6nIWbXR6RrrkJGYahsvbziL1u-mEk5o9TP70050Ey4ybtAvTvurzANl~jbu6Yw~lIRh4qwkPvn3gIMma2TRmZvu4h~~k7KJZs1RBXdo2EvvE-ecKX~COW5A6Rz8IRVnZnOWSx~WpkHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Marina Alderete Gabito on Feb. 8 raised citywide concerns about theft and vandalism of neighborhood cluster mailboxes and asked the Public Safety Committee to consider a coordinated response.

San Antonio Police Department staff described historical crime patterns, noted areas with concentrated impacts and outlined a plan to meet with stakeholders, develop investigative guidance for detectives and propose mitigation options. Staff said mailbox theft can be charged under state law as a misdemeanor and may also implicate federal offenses in some cases, and they referenced U.S. Postal Service guidance for residents who suspect mail theft.

Councilmembers and staff discussed the practical confusion residents face when reporting and repairing damaged mailboxes. Multiple speakers said some neighborhoods receive prompt USPS repairs while others do not, and that homeowners’ associations and neighborhood groups often cannot afford repairs. Councilmember Way said his office receives monthly complaints on the issue.

City staff said they would not delay lighting improvements while forming a broader working group: staff will contact relevant departments to begin lighting fixes near cluster mailboxes immediately and will convene a working group of stakeholders, with a target to bring recommendations back to the committee in June. Committee members asked staff to clarify which agencies and representatives will participate in the working group and to present timelines.

There was no formal committee vote on the mailbox item. Staff noted the working group will examine responsibilities for repair and the investigative process so detectives have consistent information when following up on reports.","Councilmember Marina Alderete Gabito asked the committee to address vandalism and theft from communal mailboxes. Staff said they will begin work on lighting improvements and form a stakeholder working group, and the committee discussed unclear repair responsibilities between USPS and neighborhoods.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6634549,"San Antonio committee backs police-led public awareness campaign to curb celebratory gunfire",377,80000,457000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a&start=80&end=457","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663854-96464614843108d5b4d717c49631055a/thumbnail_80000.jpg","/articles/6634549/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-committee-backs-police-led-public-awareness-campaign-to-curb-celebratory-gunfire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634549-ede64e9ac8611cfa555e3e859518fb6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172242&Signature=fN6NqInhHZaIK4YPF3-CfjDaMrAAE3fZnKtYgRKuiy0eEB5RInECdYzKoxuCnNSlbZbULXkXVYTOY4YOl0iQTv5Tc86ZdpWpbWvPXBmkwfRmudGKTvKIv0A~4r6hAlbpjX3~Pinv~5Kk~dt9ke4EJc2N5VAkd~Ys26Ys1xztB6KPD1-vbGDntVPuMRuFTMaSmtN2sDdfFhvqTlJw6K8QBwMXUhqTU2lIPQdFHukRmo7vtHZsMLtJzljI9H02Z8ZIUGm55oOKlPs3DeLBQw~6GX1N5wKOks9ZkU-FyO0D5FXam3wFu9Vke8Domtfd1Ms2H2qsG3To8QlCbaMQxLOmQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Antonio Public Safety Committee on Feb. 8 recommended that the city move forward with a police-led public information campaign aimed at reducing celebratory gunfire during holidays and other events.

The recommendation followed a presentation from San Antonio Police Department staff explaining the dangers of firing guns into the air and summarizing recent incidents. Councilwoman Teresa “Tere” Castillo of District 5 and Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gabito of District 7 sponsored the request to develop the campaign, and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Committee members and police staff described the human toll of celebratory gunfire. The police presentation cited four cases in early 2025 that resulted in injuries, including a child and a teenager. The presentation said bullets fired into the air return with enough force to cause injury; the police recommended a public-education push to encourage reporting and reduce incidents.

“Thank you to Councilwoman Castillo for bringing the victims’ stories forward,” Alderete Gabito said during the discussion, adding that describing the personal impact helps residents understand the risk. Councilmember White voiced support for the staff proposal and urged broad community ownership of the campaign.

The committee’s recommendation asks city staff, Metro Health and the police department to coordinate on campaign content, measurement metrics and outreach through social and traditional media. Committee members emphasized both educating residents and encouraging reporting of incidents so police can track and respond to problem locations.

The motion to recommend the campaign passed by voice vote. Committee members said they will return with follow-up materials showing planned messaging and measures of success.

The committee earlier approved the minutes of its Feb. 8 meeting by voice vote.","The Public Safety Committee unanimously recommended a police-backed public information campaign to reduce injuries and calls tied to celebratory gunfire, after a presentation documenting recent incidents and community concern.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

UTSA evaluation: targeted policing strategy tied to declines in violent crime in year two, presenters say

Committee discusses mailbox thefts; staff to pursue immediate lighting fixes and convene working group

San Antonio committee backs police-led public awareness campaign to curb celebratory gunfire