Gov. DeWine gives update about the Violence Reduction Initiative in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine joined with state, local and federal authorities on Monday, Nov. 3, to reiterate their partnership to reduce violent crime in Cleveland.

Gov. DeWine and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb introduced the Violence Reduction Initiative for Cleveland in 2023 to combat the increase in crime in the city.

“This partnership is a key example of what collaboration is all about,” said Mayor Bibb. “I’ve often said public safety is a group project. The men and women of our police department can’t do it alone. Federal law enforcement has played a critical role, state law enforcement has played a great role, as well as the county and the prosecutor.”

The partnership includes:

• Cleveland Division of Police (CPD)
• Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office
• Ohio State Highway Patrol
• Ohio Investigative Unit
• Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center
• Ohio Adult Parole Authority
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
• U.S. Marshals Service
• Homeland Security Investigations
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• U.S. Department of Justice

Since July 2023, Cleveland has led to more than 1,400 felony arrests for serious crimes such as homicide and felonious assault and seized more than 1,000 illegally possessed firearms.

Recent data from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) showed a small group of people commit most violent crimes in the state.

Less than 1% of Ohio adults were arrested each year for violent crimes or weapons charges between 1974 and 2023, most of those arrested being repeat offenders.

Approximately one-third of people arrested for violent crimes had been arrested five or more times before.

State officials have supported crime reduction programs in Cleveland, Toledo, Lima, Mansfield, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Dayton, Springfield, Columbus and Zanesville.