For generations, residents on San Antonio’s Southeast Side have grappled with robberies, shootings, and acts of violence in their neighborhoods and in front of institutions like St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. After years of organizing, COPS/Metro celebrates a major victory - the groundbreaking of the new South Flores Police Substation to serve the Southeast Side community.
Currently, Southeast Side residents must travel downtown to reach the closest substation. This new facility will be the first police substation built in San Antonio in 30 years.
Since 2020, COPS/Metro leaders have fought to get a Southeast Side police substation on the ballot. When the measure was initially placed on the ballot, city leaders attempted to remove it - at a time when the St. Margaret Mary’s community was reeling from a deadly act of violence towards a young parishioner near their church. In response, 150 COPS/Metro leaders went to city hall and demanded the measure be re-instated.
After re-securing the funding on the ballot, leaders spearheaded a powerful Get Out the Vote campaign to pass the 2022-2027 bond, which included funding for the new Southeast Side police substation.
Since then, COPS/Metro has held public actions and worked with the local leaders to ensure the substation includes community services and stays on track for completion.
This groundbreaking is a major step forward—and COPS/Metro will continue organizing to ensure this investment truly serves Southeast Side families.
Police Break Ground on the New South Flores Substation. Here's When it Will Open, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]