DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
2018 Quarterly Crime Update
SUMMARY:
In response to an increase in violent crime in cities across the nation in 2016, the SAPD implemented the Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) in January 2017. The VCTF is a proactive, intelligence-driven initiative comprised of local, state and Federal law enforcement agencies that strategically focuses on identifying and apprehending known criminals who are responsible for a significant share of the illegal activity that ultimately culminates in violent crimes that impact quality of life. Due in large measure to the efforts of the VCTF, San Antonio experienced a significant decrease in violent crime last year. Through the first quarter of 2018, San Antonio continues to witness a dramatic decrease in violent crime as a result of the continued efforts of the VCTF and the implementation of the FY 2018 budget initiatives designed to enhance community engagement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
UCR Crime Data
The Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which is published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation annually, is comprised of monthly violent crime and property crime statistics reported by over 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the nation, including the San Antonio Police Department. The table below offers a comparative crime statistics for 2017 and 2018, through April 16:
|
Bi-Monthly UCR Status Report |
|
Violent Crimes |
Jan - Apr 16 2017 |
Jan - Apr 16, 2018 |
# Change Inc/Dec |
Percent Inc/Dec |
|
Homicide |
36 |
38 |
2 |
5.56% |
|
Rape |
326 |
267 |
(59) |
-18.10% |
|
Robbery |
701 |
500 |
(201) |
-28.67% |
|
Aggravated Assault |
2,032 |
1,574 |
(458) |
-22.54% |
|
Total Violent Crimes |
3,095 |
2,379 |
(716) |
-23.13% |
|
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Simple Assaults |
5,686 |
5,584 |
(102) |
-1.79% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property Crimes |
|
|
|
|
|
Burglary |
3,490 |
2,373 |
(1,117) |
-32.01% |
|
Larceny Theft |
15,776 |
11,960 |
(3,816) |
-24.19% |
|
Motor Vehicle Theft |
2,111 |
1,719 |
(392) |
-18.57% |
|
Total Property Crimes |
21,377 |
16,052 |
(5,325) |
-24.91% |
|
Total Part I Offenses |
24,472 |
18,431 |
(6,041) |
-24.69% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Overall, Part I UCR crime has decreased 25% through the first quarter of 2018 compared to last year. The significant decrease can be attributed to the VCTF as well as the Department’s continued efforts to strengthen its relationship with neighborhoods through the introduction of a Community Engagement Program and the expansion of the SAFFE Program.
Violent Crime Task Force
In 2017, the VCTF was responsible for a total of 5,687 arrests, 2,339 felony warrants executed, 883 firearms recovered, 594 gang members arrested and the seizure of over 505,000 grams of drugs and over $1.2 million. The table below provides a comparison of the results achieved by the VCTF this year through April 14:
|
|
2017 |
2018 |
% Change |
|
Arrests |
1,229 |
2,620 |
113% |
|
Felony Warrants |
578 |
839 |
45% |
|
Narcotics Charges |
533 |
899 |
69% |
|
Gang Members Arrested |
128 |
194 |
52% |
|
Weapons Seized |
192 |
405 |
111% |
|
Drugs Seized |
78,142 g |
99,489 g |
27% |
|
Currency Seized |
$310,525.00 |
$395,087.00 |
27% |
Community Engagement
Community Engagement Program
The community engagement program is designed to proactively establish contact with individuals in high crime areas in an effort to facilitate support services and to prevent criminal activity. The program works closely with the Department’s Victim Advocacy Unit and other programs, such as SAFFE, to provide valuable services and coordinate community projects. In addition, the community engagement program coordinates its efforts to compliment the activities of the Violent Crimes Task Force to ensure its services are offered in areas with significant criminal activity. To date, the program has concentrated its focus within the East, West and Central service areas, respectively. As of March 30, the results achieved are as follows:
|
Violence Intervention and Investigations |
|
|
Performance Metric |
YTD |
|
Contacts with High-Risk Individuals |
26 |
|
Offender Notifications (Mediations) with Partners |
8 |
|
Investigative Assistance |
10 |
|
Service Referrals |
30 |
|
Number of High-Risk Individuals in Engaged in Program |
10 |
|
Offenders Flagged for Enhanced Attention |
16 |
|
Community Engagement |
|
|
Performance Metric |
YTD |
|
Partnerships with Outside Agencies |
23 |
|
Special Projects in Coordination with Community |
8 |
|
Community Meetings |
20 |
|
Victim Advocacy |
|
|
Performance Metric |
YTD |
|
Contact Victims of Violent Crime within Target Area |
18 |
|
Number of Victims Engaged in Program |
4 |
SAFFE Program
Eight additional SAFFE officers have been assigned to the East, West and Central service areas, respectively. The following is a brief summary of the benefits that have resulted from the additional positions.
East Service Area (4 officers)
• 449 hours of directed patrol to proactively address public safety concerns
• 22 community meetings attended
• 92 crime prevention presentations
• Implementation of a weekly bike patrol initiative
• Significant increase in addressing panhandling and criminal trespassing
• Increased presence at elementary schools and community activities
• Increased interaction with neighborhood organizations and the business community
Central Service Area (3 Officers)/ West Service Area (1 Officer)
• 76 community meetings attended
• 38 crime prevention presentations
• Assignment to areas with significant quality of life concerns
• Creation and presentation of anti-bullying program at area schools
• Assistance with patrols and initiatives to address panhandling in the downtown area
• Enhanced partnership with Code Enforcement to address public safety issues
• Enhanced social media presence to strengthen communication with residents
Next Steps
The SAPD remains committed to identifying opportunities to enhance its relationship with the community and to implementing programs designed to reduce crime. As part of the FY 2019 budget process, the Department will introduce several recommendations that will further enhance customer service and dedicate critical public safety resources to programs that will increase officer availability within our communities.