CLEVELAND —  Concerns about youth violence are heightened in the summer, which is why Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and other city leaders are announcing their plan to prevent that violence with an “all hands on deck” approach.

What You Need To Know

  • Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and other city leaders are announcing their plan to prevent that violence with an “all hands on deck” approach

  • Rather than relying solely on the police department, which is currently down about 200 officers with 45 cadets in training, the city is enlisting the help of other departments and partners to deploy resources into seven violent “hot spots” throughout the city to prevent crime from happening in the first place

  • Police will work closely with those partners to communicate the needed resources they see in those neighborhoods

  • The city is also launching a Crime Gun Intelligence Center in June to conduct deeper investigations into reports relating to gun violence and put more resources into firearm tracing

“This year’s summer safety plan builds on the great success we’ve seen with our RISE initiative, Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone, which consists of a three-pronged approach” Bibb said.

That approach involves investments in higher wages for police officers, partnership with other law enforcement agencies and the expansion of technology like Shotspotter across the city.

The city is also launching a Crime Gun Intelligence Center in June to conduct deeper investigations into reports relating to gun violence and put more resources into firearm tracing.  

Bibb’s administration brought together officials from the city’s police, fire, EMS and public health departments for the news conference.

He said rather than relying solely on the police department, which is currently down about 200 officers with 45 cadets in training, the city is enlisting the help of other departments and partners to deploy resources into seven violent “hot spots” throughout the city to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

Interim public safety director Wayne Drummond said this approach is new.

“Normally when we have these types of press conferences, it’s generally the mayor, safety director, chief of police and maybe a few others,” Drummond said. “But look behind me, that’s important. The mayor said the whole of government, all of government. That’s exactly what we’re doing from every department.”

Police will work closely with those partners to communicate the needed resources they see in those neighborhoods. 

“In addition to the initiatives we outlined, we’re also, in the next couple weeks, going to be deploying another $1 million from our neighborhood safety fund to invest in youth diversion programs as well to ensure that we’re investing in high-quality out-of-school programs for kids to be productive this summer as well too,” Bibb said.

When asked how young people are illegally acquiring guns, Bibb pointed to straw purchasers, or individuals who buy guns on behalf of others, and he’s also blaming it on weak gun control laws on the state and federal level. 

Cleveland Police Deputy Chief Ali Pillow said kids are also stealing guns that have been left in cars.

He encourages gun owners in the city to be responsible with gun storage to prevent more guns from getting on the street.