Mission and Vision
Mission Statement
At the Crime Reduction Institute Association (CRI), a Texas nonprofit, we aim to reduce crime, train more professional officers, and improve public safety. We do that by providing high-quality training and scholarships to officers who need them, and by helping departments and communities build more resilient, self-aware officers. CRI’s teaching stays rooted in CPTED, crime prevention, data analysis, evidence-based policing strategies, problem-oriented policing, Place Network Investigations, police leadership, and officer wellness.
Vision Statement
We envision officers and communities across Texas and the country using CPTED, crime prevention, data analysis, and community engagement to reduce crime. As a nonprofit, CRI gets there by teaching, funding scholarships, and staying with our members, students, partners, and professional fellows, not by selling a contract. Success is safer, more connected communities and more professionalized policing.
Friends and Donors
CRI is more than an association. Strong communities start with strong individuals and with friends who put an officer in the chair. Neighbors, officers, civic clubs, and companies fund scholarships and crime-prevention training. You are not buying a custom strategy. You are standing with the next class.
Three ways in
- Friends — any size gift → Give
- Officer sponsors — $350 scholarship → Give
- Class patrons — civic clubs, companies, departments fund 15 seats → Give
CRI Leadership
John Gabrielson, President & Founder
John Gabrielson is a 21-year law enforcement veteran serving with a major Texas police agency. Currently a District Representative in the Community Engagement and Crime Prevention Unit, John brings deep experience in proactive policing, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), and evidence-based public safety strategies. Prior to his work in crime prevention, John served 13 years as a patrol officer, gaining critical front-line experience in community policing and emergency response.
John is a TCOLE-certified Crime Prevention Specialist, CPTED Practitioner, certified TCOLE Instructor, and published author. He is an active member of the International CPTED Association (ICA) and ASIS International, staying at the forefront of best practices in security planning, crime prevention, and risk management. He previously held leadership roles as President of the Central Texas Crime Prevention Association and 3rd Vice President of the Texas Crime Prevention Association.
In 2021, John authored the Responsible Public Space Management Plan for the Austin Police Department, a pivotal document created in response to Proposition B and growing concerns about homelessness in public spaces. This initiative led to the successful clearing of freeway underpasses and reestablished public safety through a strategic partnership between the City of Austin's Homeless Strategy Office and APD.
In 2025, John spearheaded the launch of the Austin Police Department’s new Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program, designed to reduce criminal activity in multi-family housing communities through CPTED principles, landlord collaboration, and resident safety training.
John earned his bachelor’s degree in History from The Master’s University in 1997. His professional passions include crime prevention, community engagement, security consulting, urban safety innovation, and thought leadership in evidence-based policing and CPTED-driven design.
Andrew Samarripa, Vice President & Co-Founder
Andrew Samarripa brings over 27 years of public safety experience spanning dispatch, corrections, training, patrol, community policing, and criminal investigations. He began his career in the Brazos Valley before moving to Central Texas, where he has continued to lead and innovate in various facets of law enforcement and crime prevention.
Currently serving as an investigator supervisor with a federal law enforcement agency, Andrew is also a certified TCOLE Instructor, dedicated to advancing law enforcement training, crime reduction strategies, and community engagement practices.
Andrew is a former President of both the Texas Crime Prevention Association (TCPA) and the Central Texas Crime Prevention Association, where he played a key role in developing regional partnerships and promoting evidence-based crime prevention. As a member of the TCPA Training Advisory Committee, he was instrumental in modernizing and revising the association’s statewide training curriculum, ensuring alignment with emerging threats and best practices in public safety education.
Andrew's commitment to professional development, crime prevention education, and community-oriented policing makes him an invaluable asset to the Crime Reduction Institute and the broader public safety community.