City officials today said the annual summer anti-crime program will begin May 29th. The Community Safety Initiative is designed to reduce crime during the time when children are out of school.
City council president Zach Klein says the division of police hopes to build on the success of last year’s program.
“Look at the 2015 numbers: 413 misdemeanor arrests, 394 felony arrests, 104 firearms recovered, and nearly 7,000 grams of narcotics confiscated, just through the Community Safety Initiative,” Klein said.
Patrol officers will work additional hours building relationships with residents. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther says those relationships help law enforcement combat crime more effectively.
“You know when something is not right. We are relying on you to report suspicious or illegal behavior near your homes. Collaboration and teamwork are the best offense for a safe summer in all of our neighborhoods,” Ginther said.
The Community Safety Initiative started 8 years ago and was known then as the summer strike force.
This year’s initiative will run through the end of August.