SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio's efforts to hire hundreds more police officers received a major boost from the federal government this week, to the tune of $6.25 million. That money is expected to be used to fund an additional 50 patrol officers, helping the city to accomplish an objective on next year's proposed budget.
The Alamo City was approved for the money through a Department of Justice police hiring program, which announced its 2024 awardees Tuesday. A total of 235 law enforcement agencies were awarded money, but none more than the Alamo City.
Only six other cities – Tucson, Chicago, Albuquerque, New York, Cincinnati and Milwaukee – received as much money as San Antonio, which was the biggest Texas city to be awarded the grant. City Council in June voted to preliminary accept the grant money if it were to be awarded.
“These grants are one more way we work to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep their communities safe," Hugh Clements Jr., director of the DOJ's Community Oriented Policing Services Office, said in a press release.
The city also received $6.25 million to grow its patrol officer ranks last year, at which point Police Chief William McManus said an advantage of a larger police force was enabling personnel to spend more time developing relationships with the people they serve.
A study conducted last year recommended that the San Antonio Police Department add 360 officers by 2028. The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2025, which City Council is expected to vote on Thursday, calls for adding 65 next year.
Other money awarded by the DOJ this week will go towards preventing violence in schools, combatting drug abuse and crisis preparation. Texas State University's ALERRT program, which trains police on what to do in active shooter situations, was awarded $10.47 million while the Texas Department of Public Safety received nearly $4 million from the Anti-Heroin Task Force Program.
