City representatives in Cincinnati recently shared revised crime statistics, while also discussing the contributing factors and the strategies employed to address the growing concerns. On the 24th of June, at a press conference, they announced the formation of a new unit designed to tackle street crimes within the city. Following the deployment of this task force, the city experienced four individual shootings. Yet, the Police Chief of Cincinnati, Teresa Theetge, on Wednesday revealed that this new task force made 53 arrests during its first week on duty.
The demographics of these arrests reveal a worrying trend: over 60% were drug-related, with almost 25% involving firearms. In the initial week of operation, the Street Crime Task Force recovered 12 guns, two of which were reported stolen. Furthermore, four of the individuals arrested were under the age of 18. When questioned about whether the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) is exploring options to hold parents accountable for their underage children’s actions, Theetge suggested it might be feasible on a case-by-case scenario.
However, she added there is no plan to instate this as a blanket policy, attributing this to existing state laws that pose significant challenges. To date, no parents have been charged, but Theetge hinted that this could change in the future. Mayor Aftab Pureval reiterated the commitment to containing violent crime, stating that the task force and other city-initiated actions won’t cease until every Cincinnati community can feel secure. He emphasized that public safety is currently the primary concern on City Hall’s agenda.
Theetge also directed attention to firearms with attached switches that could transform non-automatic guns into automatic ones, increasing the potential for a more rapid rate of fire. She asserted that the usage of such switches compounds the risks for police and inhabitants alike. Simultaneously, she pointed out that vehicle-related thefts, including firearms theft, were consistently high this year. During the period between June 8th and July 5th, over 250 vehicle thefts were reported, with 34 incidents involving firearms stolen from cars.
Theetge issued a clear warning to gun owners: ‘Don’t carry your gun’. However, if it is necessary to carry one, she urged for heightened security measures to protect it. City Manager Sheryl Long further identified Red Bikes and e-scooters as contributors to crime in the city. To address this, city officials imposed curfews on these transportation modes during the Fourth of July weekend, restricting their usage from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Long confirmed similar plans for future weekends.
An analysis of crime data from the previous 28 days revealed property theft to be the most frequently perpetrated crime, constituting 1,028 instances. Out of these, 224 were car thefts, and 255 were thefts from vehicles. On the other hand, violent offenses including aggravated assault, homicide, rape, robbery, and strangulation made up only 196 crimes during this period. Compared to last year, the incidents of shootings have decreased by 17%, as per Theetge’s report.
However, she signaled concerns over the fact that more than 17% of shootings this year involved multiple victims. Despite this, the crime rates have shown a drop in early July. Yet, she was hesitant to define this as a turning point. Theetge says it’s too early to pin hopes on July but acknowledges that the first week shows promise.
The police chief also commended the task force for their high arrest rate within just a week, and she highlighted the usage of drones by CPD as one of the ways to counter violence. Drones equipped with spotlights have been used to patrol the city, identify suspicious individuals and discourage people from loitering in areas they shouldn’t be, like Smale Park after dark. The drones come with a PA system, allowing officers to communicate with people below and instruct them to disperse.
Theetge further mentioned that three drones have been primarily allocated to assist the task force. She informed that the department has been utilizing drones for several years now, hinting at the importance of technology in aiding law enforcement. Looking forward, city officials plan to conduct regular press briefings to release crime statistics and discuss the impact of their efforts on these numbers.
In order to enhance transparency with the public, Theetge mentioned that press conferences would become a routine occurrence. Further backing this commitment to transparency and to curb gun violence, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) announced on Tuesday they would offer cash rewards for information aiding their efforts.
According to a press release from the ATF Columbus Field Division, Cincinnati is currently dealing with a spike in violent crime, predominantly gun-related offenses. They strongly encourage public cooperation to combat this surge in violence. In collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the CPD, the ATF has offered rewards up to $2,500 for information leading to the capture of violent criminals or recovery of illegally owned guns.
Cincinnati has been struggling with significant firearms thefts in the past. Towards the end of last year, several large-scale thefts from gun stores were reported in the Greater Cincinnati region. In one prominent incident, a vehicle crashed into a Union Township gun store in August, resulting in a large-scale theft by four juvenile offenders. Similarly, in November, ATF officials offered a $10,000 reward for information regarding a pawn shop burglary in Norwood where multiple firearms were stolen.
In a 2023 council presentation, Police Chief Teresa Theetge and Jillian Desmond, CPD’s senior crime analyst, stated that the previous year saw a rise in car thefts, burglaries, and the number of guns stolen from these vehicles. Desmond reported approximately 650 stolen guns from about 300 different incidents, from January to November in that year. In response to this, Cincinnati council proposed ordinances to impose stricter penalties concerning stolen firearms, particularly targeting the original owners who failed to secure them.