DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Anthony L. Trevi?o, Jr. and Xavier Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUMMARY:
On February 18, 2015, Councilman Ron Nirenberg issued a Council Consideration Request (CCR) to direct City staff to develop a strategy for bolstering safety and security throughout the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System (Trails System) with input and guidance from the Parks and Recreation Department and Linear Creekway Advisory Board. The request includes consideration of a security camera system, additional staff and/or Trail Watch Program resources, emergency blue light devices, and an intensive public education campaign.
BACKGROUND:
The Trail System is a growing network of multi-use hike and bike trails that wind through natural landscapes along San Antonio creeks. There are currently 47 miles of developed greenway trails open to the public, and an additional 39 miles of paved, multi-use trails are planned on Salado, Leon, and Medina River Creeks and other San Antonio waterways through various sales tax propositions. The CCR authored by Councilmember Nirenberg and signed by Council members Trevi?o, Salda?a, Krier, and Lopez cited the Trails System as a quality-of-life issue and requests a proactive strategy for safety as a way to protect and sustain the investment in the linear creekway parkland.
Uniform Park Police patrol the Trail System (developed and undeveloped) by bike, All Terrain Vehicles and vehicle patrol at the trailheads, seven days a week, from 6:00A.M. to 10:00PM. Occasionally, covert officers patrol the trailhead parking lots to deter and provide surveillance in an effort to build cases against suspects in vehicle burglaries. Park Police have mounted game cameras at Valero, Fox, Bamberger, Buddy Caulk, Lady Bird Johnson, and W.W. McAllister Park trailheads. Cameras are reviewed periodically based on criminal activity. Surveillance is reviewed for possible suspects and Park Police Officers work with SAPD ...
Click here for full text