Governor DeWine Announces Support for Law Enforcement to Target Gun Violence, Human Trafficking
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced that the state will assist more than a dozen law enforcement agencies with local efforts to combat violence, including gun crime and human trafficking.
Fourteen agencies will receive grants totaling $3.5 million as part of the fifth round of Governor DeWine's Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. To date, the Governor has awarded $23 million to 83 Ohio law enforcement agencies to aid in their work to hold accountable the small number of criminals responsible for most violent crime in the state. A total of $58 million will be awarded as part of the grant program overall.
“Violent crime not only impacts public safety but also quality of life, and I am committed to doing all we can to protect Ohio's citizens from violence,” said Governor DeWine. “By giving local law enforcement agencies these additional resources, they'll be able to do more to prevent crime so that community members feel safe.”
Agencies receiving grants to implement violent crime reduction strategies as part of this latest round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program include:
- The Toledo Police Department (Lucas County) will receive $372,800 to purchase new technology that will help them prevent and solve crimes in high-crime areas. The enhanced technology will be used to develop better leads to track down prolific criminals.
- The Cortland Police Department (Trumbull County) will receive $112,097.73 to assign a full-time officer to the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force to target violent traffickers. The funds will also pay for overtime for undercover operations.
In addition, the following entities will also each receive grants to pay for retention bonuses to help maintain current law enforcement staffing levels, recruit new officers, and continue ongoing public safety services to prevent and investigate violent crime.
- Athens Police Department (Athens County): $200,680
- Bath Police Department (Summit County): $230,826
- Brooklyn Police Department (Cuyahoga County): $181,471.39
- Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office: $28,800
- Columbus Division of Police (Franklin County): $629,047.72
- Gallipolis Police Department (Gallia County): $155,579.18
- Noble County Sheriff’s Office: $116,462
- Oak Hill Police Department (Jackson County): $20,316.80
- Reynoldsburg Police Department (Franklin County): $685,021.96
- Ross Township Police Department (Butler County): $235,244.25
- Stow Police Department (Summit County): $330,689.60
- Wadsworth Police Department (Medina County): $241,020.68
Governor DeWine, in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, created the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program last year to give local law enforcement additional tools to address violence, including increases in crime associated with law enforcement retirements and resignations.
The program is funded through both the state operating budget and with American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds that Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly have dedicated to first responders to counter various pressing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including violent crime. The grants announced today are all funded through ARPA.
The program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services within the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Other assistance for first responders developed by the DeWine-Husted Administration include the creation of the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio School Safety Center, Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness, Ohio Prisoner Extradition Reimbursement Program, Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program, Ohio Ballistics Testing Initiative, Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program, Ohio Court Backlog Reduction Program, and the new eWarrant database.
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