A violent crimes task force targeting repeat offenders, set up seven months ago in Houston, will broaden its activities to other big cities across Texas.<\/p>\n
Gov. Greg Abbott<\/a> on Wednesday directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to \u201cimmediately expand\u201d the task force to the Austin, San Antonio and Dallas-Fort Worth areas. The unit would coordinate with local and federal partners to identify and arrest violent repeat offenders, he said. <\/p>\n \u201cDecades of criminal justice research and operational experience demonstrate that most violent crime is committed by repeat offenders,\u201d Abbott said in a letter<\/a> to DPS Director Freeman Martin.<\/p>\n The Houston operation has led to the arrest of 728 repeat offenders, with 455 considered to be a high threat, and more than 300 drug and weapon seizures, the governor said in the letter. <\/p>\n The Texas Tribune has reached out to police officials in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. <\/p>\n These cities, along with Houston, have reported a drop in violent crimes in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to a new survey<\/a> by the Major Cities Chiefs Association. The survey looked at the combined totals of four categories: homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. <\/p>\n