San Antonio Police Department Reports Progress in Violent Crime Reduction Strategy

The San Antonio City Council held a special session on August 19, 2025, focusing on the city's ongoing violent crime reduction strategies and mental health outreach programs. The meeting highlighted significant progress made in collaboration with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and other city departments.

The first topic discussed was the violent crime reduction strategy, which has shown promising results in its second year. Since the implementation of the plan in 2023, violent crime incidents have decreased nearly 10% citywide, with notable reductions in aggravated assaults and calls for service in targeted areas. The strategy consists of three phases, with the first phase involving hotspot policing aimed at increasing visibility in high-crime areas.

Maria Vargas, the Director of Integrated Community Safety, presented the second phase of the strategy, known as Problem-Oriented Place-Based Policing (POPB). This phase began in 2024 and focuses on specific locations that continue to experience chronic violent crime. The Rosemont Apartments and the Reserves at Pecan Valley were identified as key sites for intensive city intervention, which has included connecting residents to services and reducing violent crime activity.

Additionally, Vargas introduced the Good Neighbor program, which targets single-family residences with high service call volumes. Properties experiencing 12 or more calls for service within three months are prioritized for intervention, with the goal of connecting residents to necessary services and ensuring compliance with city regulations.

The third phase of the violent crime reduction strategy, focused deterrence, is set to begin soon. This phase will combine law enforcement efforts with supportive social services to address repeat offending and violence.

Jesse Higgins, the Chief Mental Health Officer for the city, also presented on the San Antonio Community Outreach and Resiliency (SA COR) program. Launched in April 2022, this initiative aims to respond to mental health crises and reduce unnecessary arrests by providing appropriate care. The program has expanded to three teams operating 24/7, responding to thousands of calls and successfully de-escalating many situations on-site.

Overall, the meeting underscored the city's commitment to addressing violent crime and mental health issues through collaborative efforts and targeted interventions. The council's ongoing initiatives aim to foster safer communities and improve the quality of life for San Antonio residents.