COLUMBUS, Ohio — According to policescorecard.org, the Columbus Police Department has more police shootings per arrest than 99% of U.S. police departments. 

What You Need To Know

  • The CPD has killed 48 people from 2013 to 2021, according to policescorecard.org

  • 8% of those killed were unarmed

  • There have been more than 4,000 civilian complaints against CPD

  • Officer Ricky Anderson shot and killed Donovan Lewis on Tuesday, Aug. 30

  • Anderson was put on administrative leave

The Columbus Police Department shot three people in less than two weeks, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating two of those shootings, one of them being Donovan Lewis, 20.

Body camera footage showed several officers and a police dog entering Lewis’ home Tuesday, Aug. 30 at approximately 2:30 a.m. One officer opened the door to Lewis’ bedroom, when officer Ricky Anderson shot him. After being shot, Lewis was told to crawl and was later handcuffed on the bed. Lewis was pronounced dead at the hospital later that morning.

It’s been reported that Lewis had a black vape pen and was unarmed.

The recurring police shootings have left Columbus community members with several questions.

According to policescorecard.org, the CPD has killed 48 people from 2013 to 2021 and 8% were unarmed. From 2016-2021, there have been 4.174 civilian complaints.

In March 2021, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced his appointments to Columbus’ first Civilian Police Review Board. In the Columbus’ 2022 Proposed City Budget, public safety received millions in funding. The Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety Strategy, which has an alternative response program, received  $11 million. In the budget's announcement, Ginther said that money would be allocated to training.

“In addition, new police recruits will have extensive training in community policing, moving us closer to the goal of a division that practices 21st century community policing,” said Ginther. 

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant had not released a written statement on the Lewis incident but according to Spectrum News 1 partners at The Dispatch, she said “we’re committed to full transparency to sharing as much as we can as quickly as we are able do so — and we’re committed to holding officers accountable if there was any wrongdoing.”

She said the investigation is ongoing and that officer Anderson was placed on administrative leave, which is protocol. Activists have planned demonstrations for the coming days, not only bringing attention to Lewis’ death but calling for an overall end to police brutality.

To see CPD’s full scorecard, click here.