Cleveland, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stood alongside state, local, and federal partners in Cleveland to reaffirm the success and continued efforts of a joint initiative aimed at reducing violent crime across the city.
Multi-Agency Collaboration Produces Major Results
Launched in 2023 by Governor DeWine and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, the multi-agency partnership brings together a wide range of law enforcement entities. These include the Cleveland Division of Police, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, and numerous state and federal agencies such as the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Investigative Unit, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Since the initiative began in July 2023, authorities have made over 1,400 felony arrests in Cleveland tied to serious crimes like homicide and felonious assault. Additionally, more than 1,000 firearms have been confiscated from individuals unlawfully in possession of them. The data underscores a focused effort to directly confront Cleveland’s most pressing violent crime issues with aggressive enforcement and strategic coordination.
“These are data-driven, focused operations where we know the most violent offenders are committing the most crime in Cleveland,” said Governor DeWine. “State, local, and federal officials are regularly surging into the areas where people are illegally carrying guns, firing them in the streets, and killing people.”
Targeting the Core of Violent Crime
Newly released data from the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) shows a clear trend spanning nearly five decades. Between 1974 and 2023, fewer than 1% of Ohio’s adult population was arrested each year for a violent crime or weapons charge. However, those arrested are often repeat offenders. In fact, one-third of adults arrested for violent crimes during that timeframe had at least five previous arrests. A similar pattern was seen in weapons violations, with about half of all arrests involving individuals with five or more prior offenses.
“This partnership is a key example of what collaboration is all about,” said Mayor Bibb. “I’ve often said public safety is a group project. The men and women of our police department can’t do it alone. Federal law enforcement has played a critical role, state law enforcement has played a great role, as well as the county and the prosecutor.”
Efforts Expand Beyond Cleveland
While Cleveland has seen the most concentrated surge in enforcement, the initiative’s reach spans the state. Violent crime reduction efforts supported by state agencies have been carried out in several other Ohio cities including Toledo, Lima, Mansfield, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Dayton, Springfield, Columbus, and Zanesville. These operations reflect the state’s broad commitment to improving public safety in urban communities most affected by repeat violent offenders.
With data pointing to a small but highly active group of individuals driving the bulk of Ohio’s violent crime, Governor DeWine and law enforcement partners are determined to keep the pressure on. Their continued collaboration across jurisdictional lines is bringing tangible results—and communities are beginning to feel the difference.
