San Antonio Councilman Cites Violent Crime Plan Results as Need for More Police Officers

But not all council members agree that more officers is the solution to reducing violent crime in the city.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:06am

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A San Antonio councilman is pointing to the city's successful results from its violent crime reduction plan as evidence that the city needs to hire more police officers. However, other council members argue that a more holistic approach, including investments in housing, mental health services, and community programs, is also necessary to address the underlying causes of crime.

Why it matters

The debate over whether to hire more police officers or take a more comprehensive approach to reducing violent crime in San Antonio reflects a broader national discussion about the most effective ways to address public safety issues. The outcome of this debate could have significant implications for how the city allocates its resources and the long-term impact on crime rates.

The details

San Antonio's violent crime reduction plan, which has been in place for three years, has seen a roughly 21% reduction in both the average monthly violent crime cases and the average monthly number of victims. A key part of the plan has been 'hot spot' policing, where the police focus extra attention on areas with high violent street crime, which has resulted in a 63% drop in crime in those areas. Councilman Marc Whyte is one of three council members pushing for the city to continue hiring additional police officers, arguing that the data from the crime reduction plan shows the need for more officers on the streets. However, Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and others argue that a more holistic approach, including investments in housing, mental health services, and community programs, is also necessary to address the underlying causes of crime.

  • In 2025, the city saw a roughly 21% reduction in both the average monthly violent crime cases and the average monthly number of victims.
  • Since 2023, the city has been trying to add 360 patrol officers over the course of three to five years.
  • The city added 100 officers in Fiscal Year 2024 and another 65 in FY 2025.
  • In the FY 2026 budget, the city only recommended adding 25 officers, down from an original plan of 65.
  • Last week, three council members asked for a non-binding resolution showing support for adding 65 officers in the FY 2027 budget, but a vote has not yet been scheduled.

The players

Marc Whyte

A San Antonio city councilman who is one of three council members pushing for the city to continue hiring additional police officers.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez

A San Antonio city councilman who is part of the Public Safety Committee and argues that a more holistic approach, including investments in housing and mental health services, is also necessary to address the underlying causes of crime.

Michael Smith

A University of Texas at San Antonio professor of criminology and criminal justice who helped create the San Antonio Violent Crime Reduction plan and provided an update on its progress.

Misty Spears

A San Antonio city councilwoman who is one of three council members pushing for the city to continue hiring additional police officers.

Marina Alderete Gavito

A San Antonio city councilwoman who is one of three council members pushing for the city to continue hiring additional police officers.

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What they’re saying

“It is government malpractice to look at a report like this and then not want to fund more officers to be patrolling the streets of San Antonio. I mean, the data is right there.”

— Marc Whyte, San Antonio City Councilman

“So unless you create a police state in which a police is on every corner at all times, you're not gonna achieve permanent results by adding more police officers.”

— Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, San Antonio City Councilman

“When the ibuprofen wears off, your headache comes back, unless you treat what's causing your headache to begin with. So that's why it's one of multiple strategies that are employed to address violent street crime.”

— Michael Smith, University of Texas at San Antonio Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

What’s next

A third phase of the San Antonio Violent Crime Reduction plan, focusing on deterring repeat violent offenders, is expected to begin later this year.

The takeaway

The debate over whether to hire more police officers or take a more comprehensive approach to reducing violent crime in San Antonio highlights the complexities involved in addressing public safety issues. While the city's violent crime reduction plan has shown promising results, there is disagreement among council members on the best way to build on that progress and further improve public safety in the long term.