In a noteworthy development, the hot spot policing strategy implemented by San Antonio’s public safety officials two years ago is yielding significant reductions in violent crime rates. The latest statistics reveal a downward trend in incidents of violence across the city, consistent with a national decline.

Overview of the Violent Crime Reduction Plan

Initiated in 2023, the Violent Crime Reduction Plan strategically deploys officers and patrol vehicles to address areas most affected by street crime. Among the notable focus areas is the Rosemont at Highland Park, a mixed-income apartment complex located southeast of downtown.

Data indicates that, over the past two years, San Antonio experienced a 10% decline in overall violent crime incidents, while hot spot areas benefitted from a remarkable 22% reduction.

Crime Trends and Notable Findings

A detailed examination of crime reports indicates that while the overall city trend shows reduced violent crime, significant changes were recorded particularly on the South and East sides of San Antonio and downtown. In contrast, the North side exhibited no statistical changes. Alarmingly, certain areas in the West Side reported increased crime rates, suggesting a potential displacement of criminal activity rather than a genuine decrease in occurrences.

Weapon arrests also decreased during this period, with citywide arrests down slightly, and a substantial 44% drop in the designated hot spots.

Insight from Experts

“What we hope and expect to see is a reduction in violent crime arrests, particularly in treated hot spots, and that’s in fact what we saw in 2024, about a 39% decrease in violent crime arrests in treated hot spots,” stated Michael Smith, a professor at UTSA and former police officer, emphasizing the effectiveness of their strategy.

Smith further noted that the national decrease in violent crime corresponds with societal factors that likely affect San Antonio as well.

Statistical Highlights

• Murders reduced by 20%
• Robberies decreased by 9%
• Aggravated assaults down by 8%
• Deadly conduct significantly down by 19%
• Robberies at businesses showed no change

Moreover, the last 60 days of 2024 demonstrated an impressive 50% reduction in violent crime within identified hot spot areas.

Future Directions and Challenges

As the program progresses, the emphasis in its second year shifted to a method dubbed “problem-oriented, place-based policing.” This approach integrates visible community policing tactics, which have been reported as effective with officers engaging residents on foot. However, challenges persist in the form of increasing family violence incidents at locations like Rosemont.

The third phase of the initiative, focusing on “focused deterrence,” is currently in the planning stages, aiming to tackle family and domestic violence in addition to chronic violent offenders.

The City Council, represented by Marc Whyte of District 10, is advocating for faster funding of police officer positions, highlighting a need for additional personnel to enhance community safety.