Dayton, Ohio – In a major push to combat violent crime in Dayton, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stood alongside state, local, and federal officials last week to announce the deployment of new state resources to bolster the city’s existing crime reduction operations. The new support, aimed at deterring chronic violent offenders, builds on intelligence-driven enforcement strategies already active within the Dayton Police Department (DPD) and supported by Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and federal agencies.
Targeting Repeat Offenders with Statewide Collaboration
“This work is already underway, and it will be carried out over the long term to regularly go after the individuals who are causing the most problems citywide,” said Governor DeWine. “We are using the combined expertise of state, local, and federal partners to specifically focus in on the repeat violent offenders who continuously disregard the law and illegally carry guns in the city of Dayton.”
The coordinated efforts focus on neighborhoods where data show the highest concentration of repeat violent offenders. Through the collaboration of multiple state entities, the operations will intensify surveillance, enforcement, and supervision of individuals most likely to reoffend.
Among the newest contributors to Dayton’s violence reduction efforts is the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), which is partnering with DPD’s Real Time Crime Center. Together, analysts are identifying high-crime areas and tracking wanted individuals known for repeated violent activity.
The Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) is also stepping up enforcement of liquor laws in Dayton’s most troubled neighborhoods, with special attention on individuals committing crimes or carrying weapons near alcohol-serving establishments.
Additionally, the Ohio Adult Parole Authority (APA) is concentrating on locating those who have absconded from post-release supervision. Parole officers are increasing unannounced visits to high-risk individuals who have recently been released from prison, aiming to reduce recidivism through tighter monitoring.
Public Tracking of Arrests and Outcomes
To enhance transparency and public engagement, Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Andy Wilson introduced a new DPS website that lists felony arrests made through these ongoing operations. The platform allows residents to follow cases as they proceed through both state and federal court systems.
“This new website will make it easier for the public to track these cases and watch the criminal justice system at work,” said Director Wilson. “These data-driven, intelligence-based operations are focused on the relatively small group of people committing crimes over and over again. When we get these individuals out of the community, we know we’ll be preventing future violence.”
The OSHP Aviation Unit has also become an essential component of the initiative, helping avoid dangerous pursuits by tracking fleeing suspects from above. The air unit guides officers to suspects and identifies areas where evidence may have been discarded, including illegally owned firearms.
“Safety is more than a statistic; it’s a commitment,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Our partnership in Dayton is focused on those driving violent crime so families can live without fear.”
Statewide Efforts Already Showing Results
The support in Dayton is just one part of a larger statewide push. Similar initiatives have taken place in Cleveland, Columbus, Toledo, Lima, Akron, Canton, Youngstown, Springfield, Mansfield, and Zanesville. So far in 2025 alone, nearly 500 felony arrests and over 150 illegally possessed firearms have been seized through these efforts.
Recent data released by DPS underscores the importance of targeting repeat offenders. Between 1974 and 2023, less than 1% of Ohio’s adult population was arrested annually for violent crimes or weapons violations. Yet of those arrested, one-third had five or more prior arrests for violent crime, and nearly half of those arrested for weapons violations had also been arrested five times or more.
By directing resources toward those statistically most likely to reoffend, Ohio officials believe they are taking significant steps toward curbing the cycle of violence in communities like Dayton.
