Columbus Division of Police to Expand Non-Fatal Shooting Team

Published on November 12, 2025

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine R. Bryant today announced that the Columbus Division of Police’s Non-Fatal Shooting Team pilot has been made permanent in Zone 6 and will expand to a second patrol zone in 2026. This follows a successful 18-month pilot that dramatically increased solve rates and resulted in the filing of hundreds of criminal charges.

In 2022, the division of police switched to a team concept for homicide investigations. This change helped balance caseloads among investigators, providing additional resources to each investigation and creating a more cohesive approach to solving the city’s most violent crimes. This team concept is one of the major factors credited with the jump in CPD’s homicide solve rate from 40-50 percent to 80 percent.

Recognizing that the difference between a non-fatal shooting and a homicide can simply be a matter of just inches or mere seconds, Chief Bryant directed the division of police to launch a Non-Fatal Shooting Team pilot program. The approach applies the same successful team concept used to solve homicides, and the same dedication of investigative resources to these cases. Previously, a non-fatal shooting would be assigned to two Assault Squad detectives. Under the Non-Fatal Shooting Team concept, a team of detectives responds and simultaneously attacks the investigation from all sides.

The pilot began in March of 2024 in Zone 6, which covers the South Linden and Milo Grogan neighborhoods, and produced a dramatic increase in solve rates. The Non-Fatal Shooting Team has handled 78 cases, with a solve rate of 75 percent, compared to 46 percent for non-fatal shootings citywide.

“Solving these cases helps us disrupt the cycle of violence being perpetuated by a small percentage of our population,” said Chief Bryant. “We believe the work of this team has not only impacted non-fatal shootings but also contributed to our reduction in fatal shootings. Stopping a non-fatal shooter today prevents a potential homicide tomorrow.”

Evidence and information gathered in these investigations has led to charges in other crimes throughout the city. In total, the Non-Fatal Shooting Team has filed 484 charges, including felonious assault, attempted murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, theft of motor vehicle, aggravated burglary and weapons under disability.

“This is what innovation in public safety looks like. Collaboration, the innovative use of data, the pursuit of justice and compassion in equal measure,” said Mayor Ginther. “It’s about saving lives, strengthening trust and taking back our neighborhoods, one case at a time.”

Based on the success of the pilot, Chief Bryant plans to bring the Non-Fatal Shooting Team concept to a second patrol zone, with longer-term plans to expand the program citywide. The determination of which zone will be next will be based on analysis of crime data, with an anticipated launch date in Spring 2026.

The pilot is one of many factors behind the marked decrease in violent crime in Columbus so far this year. As of November 11, 69 homicides have occurred in Columbus in 2025, compared to 106 at the same time in 2024 and 136 in 2023. As of the same date, there were 737 felonious assaults in 2025, 946 in 2024 and 1,219 in 2023.