Columbus: City Leaders Outline Summer Safety Initiatives
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~ As the school year comes to a close, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther has announced the city's summer safety strategy. The plan includes an unprecedented investment of $20.1 million for summer programming in partnership with Columbus City Council, with $9 million going to more than 90 community organizations. These groups offer safe and constructive opportunities for youth to learn, grow and stay active, such as ReRoute and TAPS (Teen and Police Service Academy).

The city is also bolstering policing city-wide through initiatives including "Operation Moonlight", "Operation Burnout" and "Safe Streets". "Operation Moonlight" will put up to 40 additional officers in high-visibility areas during key times throughout the summer at a total cost commitment of $2 million, up from $1.6 million last year. "Operation Burnout" targets reckless operation of motor vehicles, take-overs of city streets, businesses and private properties along with related criminal activities. Over the last two weekends in the Short North, this initiative resulted in 10 felony arrests, 45 misdemeanor arrests/summonses, seven weapons recovered, five incidents of drugs seized, nine curfew summonses and 202 vehicles impounded.

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The popular "Safe Streets" program will also return this summer with teams of bike officers working together across the city in every zone engaging with the community while conducting enforcement activity. Last year during "Safe Streets" officers checked 375 businesses, churches and schools; attended 169 community events; worked 523 hours attending community meetings and events; made 107 felony arrests; seized 96 firearms; and spent more than 2,000 hours on their bikes. This year it will be enhanced by the addition of CPD's newly created 6th Patrol Zone which has helped police balance calls for service across the city creating opportunities for stronger relationships between officers and their neighbors they serve.

Sunday 29 brand-new officers will complete their training and hit the streets while 25 portable camera towers and 7 light towers have been installed in parks to monitor activity in real-time as needed by CPD and Columbus Recreation & Parks Department.

Mayor Ginther concluded by asking parents to do everything they can to keep their kids safe this summer including enforcing a midnight through 4:30 a.m curfew for those aged 13-17 per city code or risk having CPD enforce it instead.

Filed Under: Government, City

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