More than three months after a string of shootings involving repeat offenders and police officers, the City of San Antonio and Bexar County have released a community-wide Public Safety Action Plan on Friday to reduce violent crime committed by people who have previously committed crimes.
Those shootings led to a spat between criminal justice system officials like San Antonio’s police chief and Bexar County’s district attorney about who, ultimately, is responsible for repeat offender violence and kick-started conversations about the need for local leaders to work together to solve the issue.
“Working together, city and county officials have identified opportunities and strategies for improving criminal justice system outcomes and making our community safer for residents and law enforcement officers,” San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg stated in a news release. “We must remain focused and continue our collaborative efforts.”
A December shooting spree that spanned Austin and San Antonio — which police say was committed by a man who was released on bail with active warrants for his arrest — again sparked questions about the justice system’s competence, gun control and broader need for mental health resources.
The plan identifies several gaps in the system and ways the city and county can close them.
The list of actions include:
- “Apprehending violent criminals through collaboration between San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Covert Unit and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) STOP Program.
- “Increasing monitoring of violent offenders by sharing information following release of high-profile individuals to supervision.
- “Preventing release of felony offenders by improving information-sharing between arresting officer, District Attorney’s Office (DA), and County Magistrate.”
Other short- and long-term actions, as written in the action plan, include:
- “Denial of bail to certain violent offenders. Judge Ron Rangel will lead the development of strategy to identify arrestees immediately following arrest and coordinate with San Antonio Police (SAPD), Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BSCO), and the District Attorney’s (DA) Office for consideration of denial of bail.
- “Enhance interagency collaboration on high profile cases.
- “Focus on indicting felony jail cases. Reassigning prosecutors from the trial division to review files for indictment will prevent the release of potentially dangerous arrestees.
- “Enhance arresting officers’ information sharing with District Attorney and magistrate. This will be done through improved police reports, better communication on high-profile arrests and SAPD being present at magistration in exceptional circumstances as determined by SAPD and the DA.
- “Improve case management and evidence intake systems.“
Justice system officials met privately several times since six officers were shot and wounded over a two-week period in September. Three suspects were killed in connection with those cases.
In the wake of those shootings, SAPD Chief William McManus and Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales posted tweets and press releases pointing the blame at each others’ departments.
In October, District Court Judge Ron Rangel sent a letter to Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai outlining several recommendations to improve the justice system. Several of his recommendations are included in the plan.
“I applaud the work of the city and county public safety experts who worked together over several months to craft this plan and come up with a strategy on addressing violent crime by repeat offenders,” Sakai said. “This is just the start of a joint effort by stakeholders to continue to make our community safer.”
