[{"_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",6634651,"mediaKeyId","2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef","parentId",2663856,"title","UTSA researchers report 10% citywide drop in violent crime in 2024; treated hot spots down ~22%","audioSeconds",1615,"startMs",1545000,"endMs",3160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef&start=1545&end=3160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634651/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/UTSA-researchers-report-10-citywide-drop-in-violent-crime-in-2024-treated-hot-spots-down-22","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634651-4956fd41325afed23e7ecd37866edb42/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164268&Signature=jLEp6ChHu-AV17qsTxQEFiJk-sggkzWY0swonVNZE9oHpX8hpztuohdfVYwBAnWRvqZD-nrgFcIihyU0r1qAQqi5UbVo-oOYIQFlM3w~gwBTj7kmuvuggjNAKbqHX2S13qqbYo1NOfZsu~x9ZddTXYZWOb8sAvUJ9RkCETwMMAFa4FPKP3RmIiT~x4uR5bqWimARHm1H7cbaOWTenrOriwBrZ9DYXUegpdJ0MTSBPy~-ghH-YliKDGmjv3VoIFUtisGJgHCi4D22PvKttkucBb3AaFCk3NI8hiAmAYwfHnuBJ9NM-HgzTg4-utqp8O2GbrvhsL8oi2BwLPROxCqZGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Antonio","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","UTSA researchers presented the second-year evaluation of San Antonio’s violent crime reduction plan and reported a roughly 10% decrease in violent street crime citywide in 2024 compared with 2023, with larger reductions (about 22%) in treated hot spots, the researchers said.

Dr. Smith of UTSA described the plan’s three interlocking strategies: (1) near-term hot‑spots policing to increase officer visibility at the city’s most violent places; (2) a midterm problem-oriented, place‑based approach to address proximate drivers of violence at specific locations; and (3) a planned offender-focused (focused deterrence) strategy that had not yet been implemented at scale as of the end of 2024.

UTSA reported that, across 2024, murders were down about 20%, robberies of individuals were down about 9%, aggregated assaults down about 8% and deadly conduct down about 19% compared with the prior year. The hot‑spot treatments showed stronger effects: treated hot spots collectively saw an estimated 22% drop in violent crime. High-visibility patrols reduced incidents, and high-visibility plus foot-patrols produced larger reductions; an early offender‑focused treatment in the final period of 2024 was associated with an approximately 50% reduction in treated grids where it was applied, the presentation said.

UTSA also presented more granular findings: arrests increased roughly 1% citywide and roughly 28% in treated hot spots; violent‑crime arrests in treated hot spots fell about 39%; calls for service tied to violent incidents declined about 3% citywide and about 16% in treated hot spots. Fidelity (the degree to which hot‑spot patrols were present as planned) averaged about 85% across periods and improved to the 90%+ range toward the end of the year.

The researchers reported results from a six‑month problem‑oriented intervention at 1303 Rigsby Avenue (Rosemont and Highland Park Apartments). The multidisciplinary team produced 19 recommendations; staff reported 14 were fully or partly addressed. After implementation, violent crime at that site fell by roughly half in the latter half of 2024, but family‑violence incidents increased, which UTSA flagged as an area needing continued attention.

Councilmembers welcomed the report as evidence the strategy is working and discussed next steps. Councilman White said the data showed the hot‑spot approach works and urged faster staffing increases; the chief and staff noted that budget and hiring timelines are council decisions and that the department and UTSA are continuing planning for the offender‑focused phase. The city and UTSA said they are identifying a second problem‑oriented site and continue discussions about the timeline for the offender‑focused strategy.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Antonio - Public Safety Committee - Mar 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","UTSA presented a year-two evaluation of San Antonio’s violent crime reduction plan showing an estimated 10% citywide decrease in violent crime in 2024 compared with 2023, a roughly 22% decrease in treated hot spots, and mixed results at a problem-oriented pilot site on Rigsby Avenue.","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},6634653,"Committee directs SAPD to convene task force and pursue CPS Energy lighting to address cluster mailbox theft",1039,630000,1669000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef&start=630&end=1669","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef/thumbnail_630000.jpg","/articles/6634653/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/Committee-directs-SAPD-to-convene-task-force-and-pursue-CPS-Energy-lighting-to-address-cluster-mailbox-theft","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634653-07c526e7a3bd126f26d0283769dcd1ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164268&Signature=hSf0DtpAqZC~1RZj4kf7wp8Feptsffx1HbXNybhjLuV3CFYxNb3BCibTpOM0VULuxC4zj0affYePIFWMnQVT2~upRXWOcPu0Jeen7Q6mNy1rXiEK21xn4xyWI-YTp5gGNq5csbXTyrQKfsk17l49bKJQjXSJ3hMWYWwldT13f12E1q6FC5y-4okUA7jqvORUDHbYNcLb2ngkVTddx2Bnf5M9ysym-PD~jezqN1v0AO8EjEMTPCYRcUxB8vHv2WA~MuEyiYLHTAJxDHjkCpGpkpIm~8McTU8GYD~yiHZGzYbn~L4etiJaWB~zdvHUS9EM92kqJ~fIokLhV4cUpJW~EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Safety Committee heard a briefing on cluster mailbox theft and directed San Antonio Police Department staff to convene a multi-stakeholder task force and to pursue a partnership with CPS Energy to install all-night security lighting near cluster mailboxes.

The briefing stemmed from a CCR filed by Councilmember Aldrete Gavito. SAPD staff reviewed applicable state and federal laws (mail theft can be charged as a misdemeanor or, depending on scale, a state jail or third-degree felony), presented a city heat map showing concentrations in the Upper Northwest/I-10 corridor and provided historical crime counts: from 2023 to the present the department reported 3,521 class A misdemeanor reports, 418 state jail felony reports and 10 third-degree felony reports related to mail theft and related offenses.

Staff told the committee that cluster mailbox theft investigations often lack solvability factors — for example, identifiable suspects or surveillance — limiting investigators’ ability to clear cases. The department recommended stakeholder meetings and a plan to return to the committee in August with recommendations. The briefing included a proposed task force membership list that mentioned USPS, homeowners and apartments associations, CPS Energy and congressional staff.

Councilmembers raised practical concerns: who pays to repair damaged boxes, how HOAs and residents should report thefts, and how long repairs take. Staff and councilmembers noted confusion among residents and HOAs about USPS responsibility; staff pointed attendees to USPS’s free Informed Delivery service (USPS.com) as one tool residents can use to detect missing mail. Several councilmembers said lighting has worked in their districts and pressed for immediate action on lighting rather than waiting for task force recommendations.

Maria (City staff) told the committee that staff will move forward with the CPS Energy lighting partnership under its existing program while simultaneously convening the task force, and she said staff aims to return with formal recommendations in August (or sooner if ready). Committee members requested that USPS be included on the task force and suggested adding congressional and neighborhood representatives.

The briefing did not include a formal vote; staff described the direction as committee guidance to develop the task force and to begin lighting work in coordination with CPS Energy.","Following a council consideration request, San Antonio staff outlined mailbox theft trends and solvability challenges and the committee directed SAPD to convene a multi-stakeholder task force and proceed with a CPS Energy partnership for all-night security lighting near cluster mailboxes.",{"_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},6634654,"San Antonio police to launch bilingual \"Call the Shots\" campaign against celebratory gunfire",692,76000,768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef&start=76&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663856-d4cd5d63246a4d16fa9aa99eaa58b2ef/thumbnail_76000.jpg","/articles/6634654/San-Antonio/Bexar-County/Texas/San-Antonio-police-to-launch-bilingual-Call-the-Shots-campaign-against-celebratory-gunfire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634654-150a15f25f3a7065ed6b595065242067/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164268&Signature=f2E38ha9YVZnE6-GKdU2tbP2Iau8I2X~GRV4yeTFcT~28MNeFwPi0nS~9r0OT1UITBB6Fe~YsvMexoW2lgVg6jRb-FyaGgecDHOnlz2J~R-q3mcsiUr3Jhfy26DFV0R~Oi5KHnLCQbO0JCR1lCc1ubXsLWLWlKiOQCYSphvAl2i2wROtvfvmJYA6q3h6P5ve70uw~gR9Y6a9wVmhjwsOIJycuqk8bz0S-cILXsLVVlw0bZhfOZno1KLqoO5al-oQNyyIuvaUV1iYtqt~EtTBtqzoNW6LQn4IXGNx1c~D4opfAlt0pEGgMpiVVAAvm-aMb4dovs~hLvgdiDZhsPzvhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Antonio Police Department presented a bilingual public information campaign called \"Call the Shots\" aimed at reducing celebratory gunfire, and the Public Safety Committee voted to move the campaign forward.

The campaign, requested in a Council Consideration Request submitted by District 5 Councilmember Terry Castillo and District 7 Councilmember Aldrete Gavito, will pair community engagement, social media, and local media coordination with measurement of calls for service and social media engagement, city staff said. The department described the initiative as a summer and New Year holiday focus, and recommended the committee approve SAPD and Community Neighborhood Engagement (CNE) to implement it.

The police presentation noted the hazards of firing a gun into the air: bullets fired upward can return at speeds capable of penetrating skin and bone. The chief cited local incidents in San Antonio on Jan. 1, 2025, including four cases that resulted in injury — a 9-year-old grazed by a bullet while outside and a 17-year-old struck in the cheek while at home — and said calls for ‘‘shots heard’’ peak on Jan. 1 and July 4. The department reported a citywide daily average of roughly 102 calls per day in 2023 and 79 calls per day in 2024, and said District 5 and District 2 had the highest call volumes in 2023.

Councilwoman Aldrete Gavito said the CCR was driven by reports from neighbors in District 5 and District 7 and supported telling victims’ stories to humanize the issue. She asked whether data on arrests tied to shots-heard calls was available; the chief said arrest data for those calls was not on hand and staff would follow up. Councilwoman White said she supported the campaign while reiterating her support for lawful gun ownership and stressing responsible use.

Committee members praised the bilingual nature of the campaign and the plan to track metrics and return with an update. The committee approved the department’s recommendation; a motion to proceed carried with the committee members present voting in favor.

The department said implementation will include community meetings, social media messaging, collaboration with Metro Health and San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), and monitoring of success through comparisons with the prior two years and social-media metrics. Staff also noted prior outreach, including a regional SpyroTech message and local media coverage in past years.

Committee members asked staff to provide follow-up information on arrests associated with shots-heard calls and requested a one-year update on campaign progress.","San Antonio Police Department presented a bilingual public information campaign called \"Call the Shots\" to remind residents that celebratory gunfire is illegal and dangerous; Public Safety Committee approved the department moving forward with implementation and tracking metrics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

UTSA researchers report 10% citywide drop in violent crime in 2024; treated hot spots down ~22%

Committee directs SAPD to convene task force and pursue CPS Energy lighting to address cluster mailbox theft

San Antonio police to launch bilingual "Call the Shots" campaign against celebratory gunfire