Violent crime and gang activity is rising in San Antonio. Now Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced extra resources to tackle the San Antonio violent crime surge.
In October, Abbott announced the San Antonio Police Department’s Violent Crimes Task Force will get additional help to fight violent crimes and gangs, reported ABC12.
The announcement followed a double-digit growth in violent crime in recent years, one of the largest in any Texas city.
San Antonio violent crime surge alarms politicians
San Antonio saw a massive rise in homicides in 2016. San Antonio reported 149 murders and non-negligent manslaughter cases to the Federal Bureau of Investigations that year. In 2015, San Antonio officials reported 94. According to the data, San Antonio saw a 58 percent increase year-on-year. It was one of the largest in Texas.
The city saw a large increase in many violent crimes as well as some property crimes. It experienced a rise in known offenses like murder and non-negligent manslaughter cases, robberies, rapes, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larceny cases and thefts as well as thefts of cars.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed the department would take up Abbott’s offer. He said:
“I don’t know that we needed help. We certainly welcomed the help. So it’s not, ‘Why now?’ It was an offer that was made, and I readily accepted it.”
McManus said the extra resources will not go to any particular part San Antonio. It will be directed to where it’s needed.
The task force will be taken where crime activity dictates, he said. It can be anywhere in the city. McManus said the extra money will increase police visibility and allow officers to cover a greater area of the city.
McManus said a lot of violent criminals and gang members were picked up. Police made 4,100 arrests for violent crimes from the start of 2017 to October, including 400 gang members.
Violent crime rose in many places in 2015 and 2016, including some of the smaller cities in Texas.
If you have been charged with a violent offense, it’s important to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Call us at (512) 399-2311.