Governor DeWine announces grants for local crime reduction strategies

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson announced Thursday the newest round of funding aimed at supporting efforts to reduce violent crime across the state.

A total of 44 law enforcement agencies across 28 counties will share $3.4 million through the 15th round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program.

Since launching in 2021, the program has distributed more than $87 million to over 200 local law enforcement agencies. These funds have helped cover investigative overtime, invest in new crime-fighting technology, support targeted patrols in high-crime areas, and advance other crime reduction efforts.

“There is no shortage of innovative ideas that our local law enforcement agencies are using to combat violent crime in their communities,” said Governor DeWine. “Their work to implement crime-fighting technology and tactics is making Ohio safer.”

The state’s 2026–2027 operating budget funds these grants.

As part of this latest round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, the following agencies will receive funding to carry out violent crime reduction strategies:

The Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office will receive $116,132.64 to hire two detectives, adding to a team that also includes an assistant prosecutor, a data analyst, and a victim advocate.

This team will establish domestic violence units within law enforcement, perform domestic violence lethality assessments, and train staff in protection order service, enforcement, and domestic violence interviewing.

Officials designed these strategies to address domestic violence by reducing repeat offenses in such cases.

The North Olmsted Police Department in Cuyahoga County will receive $76,500 to continue its crime prevention efforts near Great Northern Mall.

The funding will support a dedicated crime prevention officer who will focus on community education, proactive outreach, and building partnerships between police and residents, along with the strategic use of advanced technology and equipment.

Additionally, the following entities will each receive grants to support ongoing public safety services aimed at preventing and investigating violent crime:

Akron Police Department (Summit County): $90,000
Canton Police Department (Stark County): $44,144.99
Cincinnati Police Department (Hamilton County): $30,000
City of Bedford (Cuyahoga County): $50,000
Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office: $87,694.02
Cleveland Department of Public Safety (Cuyahoga County): $80,000
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (Lucas County): $137,490.86
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office: $90,000
Dayton Police Department (Montgomery County): $160,000
Defiance County Sheriff’s Office: $40,972.36
Elyria Police Department (Lorain County): $40,500
Fairborn Police Department (Greene County): $34,604.38
Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office: $33,244.70
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: $100,000
Garfield Heights Police Department (Cuyahoga County): $90,000
Girard Police Department (Trumbull County): $46,734.40
Greene County Sheriff’s Office: $42,247.93
Hamilton County Office of Addiction Response: $120,000
Hamilton Police Department (Butler County): $49,492.74
Huron County Sheriff’s Office: $200,833.92
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office: $38,950
Lakemore Police Department (Summit County): $57,000
Logan County Sheriff’s Office: $57,000

Sheriff Randy Dodds says the sheriff’s office requested the funding to support a dedicated detective assigned to the multi-jurisdictional drug task force, along with the use of LexisNexis Accurint TraX technology. He says the initiative targets violent crime tied to drug trafficking, illegal firearms, and substance use—issues he describes as persistent in Logan County. According to the sheriff’s office, Logan County recorded 31 violent crimes in 2024, including 2 homicides, 23 aggravated assaults, and 8 rapes. Officials say the goal is to reduce violent crime by targeting high-risk and repeat offenders, increasing arrests, disrupting criminal networks, and improving intelligence sharing between partner agencies. The project also includes tracking outcomes through law enforcement records and analytical tools, while the detective works with local, state, and federal partners on joint investigations and targeted enforcement operations.

Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office: $297,500
Mansfield Police Department (Richland County): $81,000
Medina County Sheriff’s Office: $27,000
Meigs County Sheriff’s Office: $15,000
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office: $73,648.34
Mount Vernon Police Department (Knox County): $14,514.06
Ohio Attorney General’s Office: $250,000
Pike County Sheriff’s Office: $13,955.76
Portage County Sheriff’s Office: $99,750
Ross County Sheriff’s Office: $50,000
Sandusky County Drug Task Force: $15,096
Springfield Police Division (Clark County): $120,000
Stark County Sheriff’s Office: $135,602.47
Steubenville Police Department (Jefferson County): $61,283.62
Toledo Police Department (Lucas County): $77,000
Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office: $56,000
Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office: $9,388.47
Warren Police Department (Trumbull County): $68,000
Whitehall Division of Police (Franklin County): $21,718.34

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