DeWine announces state support for law enforcement in Cincinnati
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced this week that the state will provide additional manpower to support the Cincinnati Police Department.
After listening to concerns from community members about recent instances of violence, local authorities have requested support from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) to aid with traffic enforcement and provide aviation support.
OSHP troopers will focus on traffic enforcement to free up local officers to respond to and investigate other crimes. OSHP's Aviation Unit will focus on supporting local violent crime reduction initiatives, criminal suspect searches, and vehicle pursuit mitigation.
“Ohio essentially has a package of law enforcement support services the state can provide in times when local authorities could use some additional help," said Governor DeWine. "We've done this in other cities, and it has made a big difference."
“I want to express my deep appreciation to Governor DeWine for his continued leadership and his assistance on our most important responsibility as a government," said Mayor Pureval. "Combatting violence is our most urgent challenge, and this coordination and support from the State of Ohio will assist our local law enforcement in ensuring the safety of all our residents. I am extremely proud of our police officers for their diligence and exceptional service – and we will continue to be unrelenting in our support of their work.”
"Our partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the use of their Aviation Unit have been instrumental in recent CPD initiatives," said Chief Theetge. "I am extremely grateful to Governor DeWine for offering state resources for the safety of our communities."
State-supported violence reduction initiatives have also taken place previously in Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Youngstown, and Toledo. These initiatives led to felony arrests, the confiscation of illegally possessed firearms, the recovery of stolen vehicles, and the seizure of illegal drugs.
In addition to aviation support and traffic enforcement, Governor DeWine has also offered Cincinnati additional services should they be needed, including additional support from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and Ohio Department of Youth Services to locate adults and youth who are not following post-release control or parole conditions; evidence analysis and intelligence gathering by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center; and targeted enforcement by the Ohio Investigative Unit on liquor establishments that are known for illegal sales, drug trafficking, and prostitution.