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Part IV PROGRAM NARRATIVE 1. Objectives and Need For This Assistance: Concise summary demonstrating need ãnd nature of project. State principal and subordinate objectives of the project. Include specific data and cite sources. San l-1arcos has been experiencing rapid gratlth in both area and population for the past several years. Since 1970, the resident ¡;:opulation has increased aver 43%. In addition, SoutJ:rwest Texas State University enrolls over 18,000 students during the Fall and Spring semesters. This enrollment has increased over 35% since the Fall senester of 1972. The grO\vtÌl projection is that the University will increase by approximately 3% eac.'1 serr.ester du.ring the next five years and the city itself will dot!ble in ooth area and population by the year 200O. San Marcos is the center of a rapidly expanding metroplex between Austin and S&"l Antonio. It is adjacent to the corridor of rn35 and the conmunity has been threatened by substantial increases in crime. The speed at vmch we have grov;n has left many ÌII1p:)rtant services unprepared for the expectations of the future. Statistics indicate that over a six year pericx1, ending in 1983, the City has experienced LTlCreaSes in almJst every criminal area, which are far and above b'1e increases in cœmunity population. The 1977 dollar value for lost property 1;VëlS estÌ.1Iiated then at $373,149.00. In 1982, the value rose to a record $1,151.224.00. It is encouraging that this value in 1983 dropped to $1,083,178.00. ~ve are hoping that the instituting of ou.r Crime Prevention Unit in 1983 through the grant program increased public æ-rareness and. had an impact on the drop. Throughout the SLX year pericx1 that these statistics reflect, the City of San l-Iarcos, through the process of annexation, has increased our patrol area over 68%. Including increases in patrol area, crime, arrests, and lost property, the departme.'1t has only increased manpower by 10.3%. With the implementation of the Crime Prevention Unit last year, the department has begun preparing for increasing the efficiency of the department and of citizen participation and public aware,l1ess.. As the departments activities increase, officers will be called u¡;:on to perfoníl a variety of duties a.T1d tasks that divert a significant am:Junt of time from the patrol fu.'1ction. One of the aìîswers to this problem is to continue on ou.r prese..T1t course of preparation, deterrence, detEction, citizen education, citizen participation, and public awareness. These statistics were gathered frcm within the department and its am record keeping system, the Unifonn Crime Report, the Texas Thlployrne..T1t Ccmnission, the San Marcos Chamber of Cœmerce, the S'1l'SU Planning and Analysis Department, the City of San r-1arcos Planning and Developnent Department, and the S'1l'SU Registrar's Office. 2. Results or Benefits Expected: Identify overall results and .benefits to be accom-:- pUshed by the project and how project will address the problem. Increases in the City and University population and with industrial and econanic expansion, new oPfOrtunities have been provided for our criminal element. Since fOlice manpower cannot adequately function without the cooperation of the citizens, the best course to take is to call upon our consti tue.ncy for their assistance. We intend to contL.'"lue to educate the ccmnunity in caring for thense1ves, bolster their m.¡areness, spur their cooperation in better reporting and docurnentation of suspicious and criwinal activity, and increase apprehensions for a safer ca:mnt.h'"lÌty a..'1d neigœorhocds. By having presonnel to devote their full tiroe attelîtion to the Crime Prevention field, \-:e can continue to have educational seminars for neighl:orhcod orgærizations, ccm:[Tü:nity groups, alid parent and youth organizations. We can shü\,¡ the citizens he->., to help themselves to supplement protection within their CD."ID1UI1ity and neigpJ:x)rhcod. Each e..nd every citizen incorporated into the working progra.'1l provides another set of eyes and ears to detect and report crime. The increase in detection a..'1d refXJrtíng will show specific trouble s¡;:ots that may not have previously been accurately assessed and the depë'.rtrr.ent can respond rrore efficiently to the citizens needs.