District 10: Public Safety Must Remain the City’s Top Priority

Published on August 15, 2025

District 10 Councilmember: Public Safety Must Remain the City’s Top Priority

SAN ANTONIO (August 15, 2025) – During the August 14 San Antonio City Council briefing on the FY26 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget, Councilmember Whyte expressed disappointment regarding the revised police hiring plan, noting the reduction in new patrol officers from 65 to 25.

He cited a memo sent out on August 14 in collaboration with the District 7, 8, and 9 Councilmembers, requesting an alternative funding plan to hire 65 patrol officers in FY26. It referenced the 2022-2025 San Antonio Police Department Violent Crime Reduction Plan, developed by the City, SAPD, and Weiss Consulting. 

This initiative was created to address a nearly 50 percent increase in violent street crime between October 2019 and September 2022. In response, City Council discussed a five-year staffing plan to add 360 patrol officers between FY24 and FY28. 

To date, the City has funded a total of 165 patrol officers. The memo highlighted a shared concern over pausing adding new police officers. “Public Safety was identified as a top priority by the residents of San Antonio according to the recent budget survey. This reduction in adding new police officers slows progress toward the staffing study’s goal of adding 360 officers over five years to achieve 60 percent proactive patrol and 40 percent on call,” stated Councilmember Whyte. “Our job when we spend our residents’ tax dollars is to determine how we can most directly and positively impact their day-to-day lives. There is no greater impact than ensuring the public’s safety.”