(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced today that 10 local law enforcement agencies will receive a total of $12.3 million to help prevent and investigate incidents of violent crime in their communities.
The grants represent the ninth round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. To date, Governor DeWine has awarded $58.3 million to 129 Ohio law enforcement agencies as part of this program. Approximately $100 million will be awarded to local law enforcement agencies as part of the grant program in total.
"Ohio continues to take proactive steps to support our local law enforcement and make sure they have what they need to combat the spike in crime that's plaguing communities nationwide," said Governor DeWine. "With this funding, our police officers, deputies, and prosecutors will have more resources to hold offenders accountable for their crimes and prevent additional crime in the future."
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 Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office will receive $989,628.30 to hire three additional attorneys to focus on prosecuting the current backlog of domestic violence and sexual assault cases. Funding will also be used to continue providing forensic phone extractions for law enforcement partners and to conduct a study of the effectiveness of ongoing violence-reduction strategies.
The Euclid Police Department (Cuyahoga County) will receive $107,000 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime.
The Licking County Sheriff’s Office will receive $400,669 to develop and implement a strategic plan for violent crime reduction and to identify future needs associated with anticipated growth in the county. Funds will also be used toward new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime, as well as for the creation of violent crime awareness literature, pamphlets, and training materials to be distributed throughout Licking County to schools, businesses, fairs, and community events.
The Newark Division of Police (Licking County) will receive $128,400 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Office will receive $106,550 for new staffing to allow for an additional deputy to be assigned to investigate major crimes such as homicide, robbery, burglary, and sexual assault. Funds will also be invested in new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office will receive $37,278.45 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime, including new equipment to effectively document crime scenes and equipment to aid in identifying suspected illegal substances.
In addition, the following entities will also each receive grants to pay for retention and/or hiring bonuses to help maintain current law enforcement staffing levels, recruit new officers, and continue ongoing public safety services to prevent and investigate violent crime.
- Cleveland Division of Police (Cuyahoga County): $4,215,000
- Cleveland State University Police Department (Cuyahoga County): $240,084.30
- Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office: $1,532,448.48
- Dayton Police Department (Montgomery County): $4,580,434.48
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 Rescue 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.