Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety Strategy
The City of Columbus has invested in innovative programs and is working with partners to build stronger and safer neighborhoods through a broad-based approach involving local law enforcement, public health, recreation and parks, neighborhoods, businesses, community leaders and residents. This comprehensive strategy is working to reduce violent crime in our community. Safety initiatives to address these issues include:
Safe Streets
The successful Safe Streets Program, a pilot program proposed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the
NAACP, has been expanded to three neighborhoods. The Columbus Division of Police bike patrol program is based on recommendations independently evaluated by the National Institute of Justice.
Contacts:
Parsons Ave. Safe Streets
Sgt. Brian Vegh • 614-645-6924 • bvegh@columbuspolice.org
Linden Safe Streets
Sgt. Dana Hess • 614-645-2970 • lindensafestreets@columbuspolice.org
Westside Safe Streets
Sgt. Fred Brophy & Sgt. Eric Houser • Tip Line: 614-645-3656 • westsidesafestreets@columbuspolice.org
Safe Neighborhoods
The Applications for Purpose Pride and Success (APPS) Program helps break the cycle of violent crime through prevention strategies that offer safe and constructive alternatives to violence and youth development mentorship through enrichment activities at four community recreation centers. The APPS Job Readiness Program provides comprehensive workforce development and jobs for teens and young adults. The APPS program is also home to Neighborhood Violence Intervention that utilizes street-level violence interruption and conflict mediation teamed with case management and support services to address risk factors that can lead youth into a life of crime and violence. APPS also hosts the Cap City Night Festivals with activities that encourage relationship building among families and neighbors, strengthening community ties and empowering residents to work together to reduce violence while creating a platform of trust to produce positive change.
Contact: Mario Martin, Columbus Recreation and Parks, 614-645-8430, mtmartin@columbus.gov
Crisis Intervention Training
To better respond to people in crisis, every new police recruit now has Crisis Intervention Training. The City also will have 50% of all frontline, community-facing police officers receive Crisis Intervention Training by the end of 2020.
Contact: Lt. Dennis Jeffery, Columbus Police, 614-645-2231, djeffery@columbuspolice.org
Columbus CARE Coalition
The CARE (Community, Action, Resilience & Empowerment) Coalition provides education and support services to address the trauma that families and neighborhoods experience because of violent crime. In 2017, CARE provided: door-to-door outreach to 1,480 homes in Linden and the Hilltop; trained nearly 100 health care and social service professionals in trauma-informed care; held 2 mental wellness events serving 205 people in Linden and the Hilltop after traumatic events; and held a Community Remembrance Vigil for those who lost a loved one to violence.
Contact: Marian Stuckey, Director of Social Work at Columbus Public Health, 614-645-8554, mastuckey@columbus.gov
Neighborhood Crisis Response
A new cross-departmental Neighborhood Crisis Response is strengthening neighborhoods by coordinating city resources that create physical deterrents to crime such as streetlights in alleys, nuisance code issues, housing stabilization and after-school programming. Recent examples include replacing 37 streetlights in Wedgewood as a deterrent to crime and violence.
Contact: Emerald Hernández, Department of Neighborhoods, 614-645-5335, elhernandez@columbus.gov
Violent Crime Review Group
The Violent Crime Review Group is working to lower homicide rates through a focused, multi-departmental review of and response to violent crimes. The work includes a notification process which rapidly notifies member agencies when a homicide occurs in the pilot neighborhood of Linden to respond with appropriate services to impacted residents and visitors within 48 hours. The group will also conduct a crime review process to regularly and systematically examine homicide cases in the pilot neighborhood, with the goal of making neighborhood-specific crime intervention strategies and recommendations to reduce the number of homicides.
Contact: Rick Hicks, Columbus Public Health, 614-645-6189, rickh@Columbus.gov
Neighborhood Safety Committees
Led by local Community Liaison Officers, these committee will include block watch volunteers and community leaders who will review information from the Violent Crime Review Group and give real-time feedback on our neighborhood intervention strategies. Committees will enhance, not replace, the valuable work already being done by community groups throughout Columbus.
Contact: Emerald Hernández, Department of Neighborhoods, 614-645-5335, elhernandez@columbus.gov
Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission
This 17-member Commission is working to ensure that Columbus has the best Police training, policies and procedures to protect and serve the entire community. The Commission has been tasked with recommending an objective, independent consultant to support its work.
Contact: 614-645-6354, communitysafetycommission@columbus.gov
Click here for more information about the Commission.