Cincinnati is confronting the dichotomy of what data shows about street violence in the city and what it feels like to fearful residents.According to statistics the police department has compiled, shootings and homicides are lower than they were a year ago at this time. Not only that, but overall violent crime in the city is at a six-year low.So, why does it feel that the situation is worsening? One reason may be that although there are fewer shootings so far this year, there have been 49 in the past 28 days.And most of the 183 shootings since the first of the year have occurred since May.That includes the shooting of a 16-year-old boy in Avondale last night. On Tuesday, police went to that neighborhood to hand out fliers and do some one-to-one conversing."A grandma, a single mom, pushing a stroller, a young person, anyone," Lt. Col. Mike John instructed his officers Tuesday afternoon. "Just engage. That's the most important part of this."He said he'd rather see them hand out 10 fliers instead of 100 if they can have a meaningful conversation with someone. The fliers included dots on a map showing where street violence was happening.As they fanned out to eight separate locations, the fact that data showed a decrease in overall crime was only a stat easily dismissed on the streets."My kids don't even want me to walk to the store," Charlotte Baker told Officer Lou Arnold.Arnold walked the back lots of some apartment buildings off Reading between Cleveland and Blair, one of the hot spots in the neighborhood.The idea was to show people how to connect with agencies that have helpful resources and to establish a connection. He did that with Baker, both agreeing that the neighborhood they grew up in is nothing like it once was. He met Edward Clay, who told us he's 58 and has lived in Avondale for 15 years. "I'm a gunshot victim. Got shot three times out in Winton Terrace," Clay said.He told us he never looked back."I ran the streets and stuff like that. But I had to wise up to let myself know that, hey man, this stuff out here ain't nothin', man, you know. I got to keep a roof over my head," Clay said.Clay said people on the margins need help.Over-the-Rhine, Walnut Hills, West End, Avondale and Westwood lead the neighborhood list of shootings in 2021.Police have had success in reducing the number of homicides by ten at the midway point of the year. And their clearance rate is 73% which is higher than the national average.They have seized 750 illegal guns from the streets this year, 200 above the three-year average.At city hall, police Chief Eliot Isaac told lawmakers illegal guns are used in most of the shootings and are tragically and mistakenly viewed as a logical response to sudden disputes."Someone retrieves a gun and now it turned into a shooting," Isaac said. "The inability to resolve conflict is what is at the root of most of these violent crimes."His voice grew more animated as he asked for help on this from the community."Make sure young people know how to resolve conflict before they're out in society and it doesn't result in someone picking up a gun or two individuals having an argument and they end up shooting three little kids as they try to shoot each other," he said.Law Committee Chairman Chris Smitherman said citizens tell him how they want a police presence and are against the notion to defund the police.Asked about morale, Isaac conceded his officers feel scarred by the heat of political rhetoric and do not feel supported at times. He asked that they look past that and focus on the policies and votes by local lawmakers.He pointed to a significant raise, overtime approval, external vests and other programs that were funded as examples of what city council provided."I feel very supported by this council," Isaac stated.
Cincinnati is confronting the dichotomy of what data shows about street violence in the city and what it feels like to fearful residents.
According to statistics the police department has compiled, shootings and homicides are lower than they were a year ago at this time. Not only that, but overall violent crime in the city is at a six-year low.
So, why does it feel that the situation is worsening? One reason may be that although there are fewer shootings so far this year, there have been 49 in the past 28 days.
And most of the 183 shootings since the first of the year have occurred since May.
That includes the shooting of a sixteen year-old boy in Avondale last night. On Tuesday, police went to that neighborhood to hand out fliers and do some one-to-one conversing.
"A grandma, a single mom, pushing a stroller, a young person, anyone," Lieutenant Colonel Mike John instructed his officers Tuesday afternoon. "Just engage. That's the most important part of this."
He said he'd rather see them hand out ten fliers out instead of a hundred if they can have a meaningful conversation with someone. The fliers included dots on a map showing where street violence was happening.
As they fanned out to eight separate locations, the fact that data showed a decrease in overall crime was only a stat easily dismissed on the streets.
"My kids don't even want me to walk to the store," Charlotte Baker told Officer Lou Arnold.
Arnold walked the back lots of some apartment buildings off Reading between Cleveland and Blair, one of the hot spots in the neighborhood.
The idea was to show people how to connect with agencies that have helpful resources and to establish a connection. He did that with Baker, both agreeing that the neighborhood they grew up in is nothing like it once was.
He met Edward Clay, who told us he's 58 and has lived in Avondale for 15 years.
"I'm a gunshot victim. Got shot three times out in Winton Terrace," said Clay.
He told us he never looked back.
"I ran the streets and stuff like that. But I had to wise up to let myself know that, hey man, this stuff out here ain't nothin', man, you know. I got to keep a roof over my head."
Clay said people on the margins need help.
Over-the-Rhine, Walnut Hills, West End, Avondale and Westwood lead the neighborhood list of shootings in 2021.
Police have had success in reducing the number of homicides by ten at the midway point of the year. And their clearance rate is 73% which is higher than the national average.
They have seized 750 illegal guns from the streets this year, 200 above the three-year average.
At City Hall, Chief Eliot Isaac told lawmakers illegal guns are used in most of the shootings and are tragically and mistakenly viewed as a logical response to sudden disputes.
"Someone retrieves a gun and now it turned into a shooting," said Isaac. "The inability to resolve conflict is what is at the root of most of these violent crimes."
His voice grew more animated as he asked for help on this from the community.
"Make sure young people know how to resolve conflict before they're out in society and it doesn't result in someone picking up a gun or two individuals having an argument and they end up shooting three little kids as they try to shoot each other."
Law Committee Chairman Chris Smitherman said citizens tell him how they want a police presence and are against the notion to defund the police.
Asked about morale, Isaac conceded his officers feel scarred by the heat of political rhetoric and do not feel supported at times. He asked that they look past that and focus on the policies and votes by local lawmakers.
He pointed to a significant raise, overtime approval, external vests and other programs that were funded as examples of what City Council provided.
"I feel very supported by this Council," Isaac stated.
Source link
