Cincinnati sees progress in public safety as overall crime falls

Cincinnati sees progress in public safety as overall crime falls

2023-02-10T12:41:44-05:00February 10th, 2023|Cincinnati, Economy, Government|

Writer: Steven Dominguez

3 min read February 2023 With the overall crime in Cincinnati at a 10 year low, the public sector has been taking additional steps to ensure public safety by addressing social and economic factors.

The city’s first female police chief, Teresa Theetge, is working toward lowering the crime rate by pushing for another round of police overtime funding to be able to target certain high crime areas in 2023. According to the latest assessment from the police department on Tuesday, there were 78 homicides in 2022, down from 94 in 2021, as cited by WLWT5. The majority of these cases resulted from domestic violence disputes. The number of shootings in Queen City remained relatively unchanged, dropping from 405 in 2021 to 401 last year.

The city’s authorities, in collaboration with the community, have also launched a number of initiatives aimed at preventing crime and ensuring the safety of its residents.

Last fall, Gov. Mike DeWine, in a partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, formed the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. The program provides local law enforcement with additional resources to address violence, including increases in crime associated with law enforcement retirements and resignations. A total of approximately $100 million will be awarded to local law enforcement agencies, according to Gov. DeWine.

Many business owners across Ohio believe crime, especially violent crime, is still a top concern and the majority of them want to see more law enforcement present in the region. According to a 2022 survey conducted by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, residents and business owners across the state expressed their views on crime and safety after a report ranked five cities in the state among the ‘Deadliest U.S. Cities.’ Dayton ranked No. 5 on the list, followed by Cleveland (10) Cincinnati (19), Akron (49) and Toledo (57). 

The safety of our communities remains fundamental to our state’s ability to attract and retain businesses and that makes it a priority for the Ohio Chamber,” Steve Stivers, president & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, told The Center Square. “The state of Ohio has made it clear that the issue of public safety is a priority, making over $100 million grants available to local law enforcement, however, there is still more to be done. This survey showed that the business community is concerned with crime and believes crime levels have kept business from expanding.” 

On Wednesday, the Cincinnati City Council passed two ordinances to help subside gun violence — including a requirement for all gun owners to safely lock their firearms to keep out of reach from children. Another ordinance would ban people convicted of domestic violence from legally owning a gun, according to Fox 19 Now.

With a heightened focus on addressing public safety concerns in Queen City, residents and businesses alike stand to see an increase in quality of life and business activity going forward.

For more information, please visit: 

https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/

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