CLEVELAND — Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff to summer, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and law enforcement officials gathered Tuesday to announce their summer safety plan.
“As we approach the summer season, it was important for our administration to really show a true all of government approach to addressing violent crime in the city of Cleveland,” said Mayor Bibb during the press conference at Trent Park.
Mayor Bibb mentioned that this year’s summer safety program builds on the success of his administration’s RISE initiative.
“What is unique about this year’s summer safety plan is that we recognize that every department has a role to play in reducing violent crime," said Bibb.
Here are examples that the Bibb administration says shows the "collaborative effort" between multiple city agencies:
- Department of Public Works: Street repairs, paving, sweeping, waste collection, graffiti removal, tree trimming, rec site improvements.
- Department of Public Utilities: Pole repairs, streetlight upgrades.
- Department of Building and Housing: Code Enforcement, citation upon violations.
- Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity, Department of Community Relations: Support from Neighborhood Safety Fund grantees, social support specialists, violence interruption services, and citizen outreach.
- Department of Aging: Senior walks, robocalls, senior-targeted engagement efforts.
Interim Director of Public Safety Wayne Drummond echoed Bibb's sentiments, saying that Tuesday's press conference was unlike any he has attended in his law enforcement career.
“Look behind me. That’s important. The mayor said all of government, thats exactly what we are doing. Every division is behind me. It is an all of government approach to crime prevention," said Drummond.
Leaders decided on this approach for their summer safety plan after analyzing crime trends over the last three years.
This year's approach will include the following:
- Operation Heat Wave: May 1-August 1
- Heavy traffic enforcement alongside the Ohio State Highway Patrol
- At least 1-2 warrant sweeps this summer
- Using intelligence and data-led decisions to stop violent crime
“It's not about crime; it is about stopping crime and finding out what is driving that crime or leading people to fall that way. Again, education, jobs, neighborhood safety issues, whatever it is, as a Division of Police, we don’t have the capacity to fix that, but we have a direct line to the people who can,” said Cleveland's Deputy Chief of Police Ali Pillow.
The full press conference can be watched below:
This summer will also mark the opening of Cleveland's Gun Crime Intelligence Center, which will help identify where seized guns came from.
However, Pillow noted that a number of guns used in crimes are stolen out of homes or vehicles. He asked the community to consider where they are keeping their guns by using lock boxes and keeping them where kids can't access them.
The press conference happened less than a week after Cleveland officials announced that crime during spring has been trending downward in Cleveland.
Cleveland officials say that between March 19 and May 10, 2024, homicides were down 46.2% compared to last year. Overall, total crime was down 6.7% compared to last year.