COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther will announce a partnership Tuesday that will serve as part of an agency that collects, analyzes and distributes data about shootings and other crimes.
The partnership will be between the Columbus Division of Police, U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
"The agencies will work together as part of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), an interagency collaboration designed to collect, analyze and distribute intelligence data about crime, guns, mass shootings, and major incidents across multiple jurisdictions," according to a press release from Ginther's office.
The announcement comes a day after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost confirmed two central Ohio shooting investigations involving officers have been completed and have been referred to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office.
The first investigation referred was the death of Andrew Teague, 43, on March 8. The second is the shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant, 16, on April 20.
Over the last few months, Columbus has had a few mass shootings, including the one in Bicentennial Park on May 22. Seven people were injured and a 16-year-old girl was killed. Police are investigating, but no suspects have been identified.
Following the shooting, Ginther said the city is preparing for a "summer of violence."
“I've said it before. I will say it again, and I will keep saying it: Put the guns down," Ginther pleaded at a press conference the following day.
On July 6, the city announced the formation of the Columbus Police Parks Detail, which amps up police protection throughout parks in Columbus. The Safe Parks Initiative is composed of 30 officers, who have been deployed on bikes to patrol areas in an attempt to curb crime.
“After the long shutdown of COVID, our families want to get out and enjoy our parks and recreation centers,” said Chief Elaine Bryant. “Our priority is making sure they do that without worry of the violence we’ve seen already this summer. It breaks my heart that we’ve lost young people in places where they should be free of worry and violence. This is not acceptable in our city.”
Violent crime data for June hasn't been released yet by the department, but in May, homicides were almost double what they were the same time last year.
As of May 31, Columbus police recorded 83 homicide investigations. Last year on May 31, the city had 43 homicide investigations.