Gov. Abbott urges Texas DPS to expand the Repeat Offender Task Force, crediting its success in Houston with arrests and crime reduction, aiming for broader impact.
SAN ANTONIO — Gov. Abbott is applying more pressure to bring down crime across Texas, including here in San Antonio. Tuesday, the governor penned a letter to Texas DPS urging the agency to expand the state’s Repeat Offender Task Force program.
The program was initially a start-up policy in Houston seven months ago. Gov. Abbott says the task force resulted in the arrest of hundreds of high-level criminals and gangs members. He says additional benefits include recovered stolen vehicles and less weapons overall within the community.
In Houston, the repeat offender task force worked by having more peace officers and operations in high crime areas. Abbott also pushed to get Proposition 3 passed in last year’s November election to deny bail for certain violent and sex-related crimes.
KENS 5 has reached out to SAPD and BCSO to see how the task force may work in the San Antonio area. We have not yet received a response.