The San Marcos Police Department announced its five-year strategic plan for 2026-2030, outlining almost 60 goals for the future of the department.
The plan used symbolism of a compass that recognized the “North Star” as the guide to the long-term vision, and an “azimuth” as a direction to go in order to meet this vision. The department established that the ultimate goal was to give the best to the community, department, families and themselves.
Russell Wilde, SMPD’s public safety communications specialist, wrote in an email to The Star that the plan was not a list to be checked off; rather, it is a navigation system to meet these goals.
“Everything in the plan is designed to move the department toward one outcome: delivering the highest service to our community while strengthening our workforce, operations and community trust,” Wilde wrote.
The four azimuths, or goals, that the plan established include organizational capacity, dignity in policing, community connection and proactively addressing safety.
Many of the key milestones laid out in the plan include the continuation of training programs and ongoing services, aligning roles and assessing technology, creating a better environment to work, helping the department succeed in work and increasing community outreach.
Wilde also wrote that the department would reference the plan and update it based on conditions like staffing, new laws and technology update.
“The goal is not to lock ourselves into a rigid plan, but to stay aligned with our purpose while adapting to real-world conditions,” Wilde wrote.
Lonzo Anderson, San Marcos assistant city manager, wrote in an email to The Star that the plan would help students at Texas State. SMPD’s goal is to continue collaborating with Texas State’s University Police Department to ensure that students feel informed, supported and safe.
The document containing the five-year plan stated that a landmark goal is to partner with community stakeholders, like Texas State, to conduct a monthly focus on a specific area. The document lists the purpose of these programs to build trust and solve issues pertaining to crime prevention, outreach, mental health and driving safety, with the ultimate goal of strengthening relationships and improving strategy relating to the needs of a community.
“For students, the plan focuses on better communication and building stronger relationships with Texas State University,” Anderson wrote.
Anderson wrote that the plan itself is ambitious, meaning that challenges would be a result of execution rather than flaws within the plan itself.
“Continued accountability, adaptability and sustained community engagement will be key to keeping the plan on track and responsive over time,” Anderson wrote.
Howard Williams, an associate professor in the school of criminal justice and criminology and SMPD’s former Chief of Police, said the goals were so broadly defined because organizations like SMPD experience frequent changes.
“It’s kind of a pipe dream, this is where you want to be, right? With the understanding that things are going to change along the way and you’re going to have to respond differently [than] you had planned [three to five] years ago,” Williams said. “ I think the goals are fine. I mean, goals have to be reasonable, and they have to be attainable.”
Williams said he hesitates to critique the current department because its goals differ depending on who sets them.
“Different people in charge are going to have different goals. They’re going to have different ways of wanting to achieve them, right? That’s just human beings having different preferences for things,” Williams said. “So, I would hesitate to say that there’s anything that I would want to do differently.”
As the plan is put into effect this year, SMPD uses “landmarks” that will be to track measurable progress that will show if the plan is being followed, according to the San Marcos government website.
