City officials are divided on how best to make San Antonio safer: add dozens more police officers in the next budget cycle, or invest in other strategies to reduce demand on patrol.

The debate stems from a five-year plan, introduced in April 2023, to shift the San Antonio Police Department toward spending 60% of its time on proactive patrols and 40% responding to calls. 

In the plan, the city set a goal of adding 360 patrol officers by 2029. So far, 165 have been hired.

The proposed 2026 budget sets aside $1.4 million to fund 25 new patrol officers. But some council members say that number falls short, pushing instead for 65 officers. 

According to figures presented by Police Chief William McManus and City Manager Erik Walsh at a budget town hall on Tuesday, adding more officers would cost an additional $2.1 million in the first year and $5.9 million in the second.

District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran pressed Deputy City Manager María Villagómez on whether outside funding could help cover more officers. 

Villagómez said the city has applied for a federal COPS grant for 25 officers, though that would offset the current budget proposal rather than add to it, and would only cover three years before the city would assume the full cost. She said she was not aware of any state programs that could be used to fund new positions.

Council members Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, Misty Spears and Marc Whyte and City Manager Erik Walsh listen to a presentation during a budget town hall on public safety at City Hall on Aug. 19, 2025. Credit: Diego Medel / San Antonio Report

That uncertainty fueled calls from other council members, including District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte, who argued the city should commit local dollars now to ensure San Antonio hires 65 officers this year, pointing to the police department’s own data showing that adding more officers would speed progress toward the 60-40 patrol goal. 

SAPD reports its patrol officers currently spend 49% of its time on proactive patrols and 51% on responding to calls.

“I agree with Councilwoman Viagran on her overall approach to, let’s do what we can to find a way to fund more officers,” Whyte said. “… if public safety is our number one priority, I do not understand why we did not start in this budget with the funding for the 65 officers, and then build everything else around it.” 

But some council members say adding more officers isn’t the only way to reach the 60-40 goal. 

District 4 Councilmember Edward Mungia pointed to the city’s proactive programs, like the San Antonio Fear Free Environment (SAFFE) unit and Community Outreach and Resiliency Effort (C.O.R.E.) as another way to move closer to the 60-40 goal.

“Most of us are more familiar with the work of SAFFE and what they do — that type of proactive work really addresses chronic neighborhood issues tied to single properties, and I think that’s very valuable,” Mungia said. “Specialized units like the C.O.R.E. teams and SAFFE help reduce calls that go to patrol. So why wouldn’t we look at additions to those particular units as another way to reach the 60-40 goal?”

As of Aug. 15, SAPD had 40 officer vacancies, according to Assistant Director Rick Riley, a number he said could shift slightly this week as retirements are finalized.

Council members are expected to continue debating the additional patrol officers as they review the proposed 2026 budget ahead of a final vote on Sept. 19.