In 2021, San Antonio police reported the highest homicide count since 1994, when the city was riddled with drive-by shootings and gang violence. City leaders and the news media ask why crime and violence is so high, and the answer is in the phrase "repeat offfenders." Criminals do not fear the current justice system.
Last year, 160 people lost their lives at the hands of another person in San Antonio, according to police records obtained and analyzed by KSAT 12. The tally is higher than the most recent homicide spike in 2016, when 151 killings were reported in San Antonio. It is the highest since 1994, when 194 homicides were recorded.
The San Antonio Police Chief has spoken out on three occasions about the “repeat offenders” that are being released by a liberal Bexar County judicial system. The lawful citizens of Bexar County and San Antonio should appreciate Chief McManus’ honesty.
Two good examples of how liberal judicial policies are endangering citizens are the following. On Monday, June 27, San Antonio police arrested Rodolfo Aceves for making a terroristic threat when he told a coworker at an Amazon delivery facility that he planned to commit a mass shooting. However, a few hours after the arrest, Aceves posted about $5000 in bond and was released from jail.
On Saturday, July 23, Pablo Medellin was arrested after threatening to shoot up the San Antonio College campus. However, Medellin was released the next day on Sunday morning after posting bail of about $10,000.
These two people are examples of how the liberal George Soros-funded District Attorney Joe Gonzales and the liberal court magistrates contribute to the crime wave. They consider race and income to set lower bails.
SAPD Chief William McManus complained about Aceves' release. He told KENS TV news, “I just don't understand why it's OK for this guy to be on the street. Especially in the wake of Uvalde, this individual being out on the street, regardless of what bond conditions he may have, is dangerous to the public.”
Law enforcement officers have nicknamed DA Gonzales, “Let ‘em go Joe Gonzales” because he releases repeat offenders. But defends himself and blames the police officers who arrest the suspect and magistrate judges who set the bail.
Gonzales says he depends on law enforcement to inform prosecutors about the case and dangers posed by the suspect. But many times, law enforcement officers prepare detailed reports on the arrest, only to have the D.A. or a magistrate reject it or ignore the severity of the danger.
Most of the magistrates are liberals who were swept into office in the 2018 election. They have a “social justice” view of the judicial system, and advocate for “bail reform” which considers race and income in setting the low bails.
Two additional factors are Texas Organizing Project and City Council members who have an anti-police agenda. DA Gonzales has a list of inmates to TOP to bail out with their funds. It would be interesting to know where TOP gets the money for the bail.
Then there are the anti-police attitudes of certain San Antonio city council members. On Thursday, June 2, Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5) opposed other council members in a 7-2 vote on whether to pursue a grant for up to fifty new police officer positions.
McKee-Rodriguez and Castillo raised concerns about whether adding officers would help reduce crime and about the increase to SAPD’s budget that would result from it. Never mind that the East side that McKee-Rodriguez represents is one of most crime-ridden areas of the city.
These shortsighted City Council members blame the police for the crime when they should focus on Gonzales and the liberal magistrates who release repeat offenders.
San Antonio and Bexar County face the same problem as other major cities like Los Angeles and New York who have liberals controlling the local justice system. However, the problem is not well publicized because the local San Antonio news media ignores it.
Chief McManus should be complimented for stating that repeat offenders are being released because of low bails set. When crime is excused, it gets worse, and the crime and violence have reached intolerable levels.
Law enforcement cannot make the community safe if local politicians villainize law enforcement and the justice system excuses and releases criminals. The citizens of San Antonio and Bexar County need a D.A. and magistrates who are tough on crime.