CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Police is attacking the surge in shootings and homicides with a new Violent Crime Response Team, the city manager announced Thursday.
A team of 75 personnel goes into operation Monday. CPD added 25 officers to its street level strength a few weeks ago.
"The next step for the department is to take a more aggressive stance to address the levels of violent crime, specifically gun violence," City Manager Harry Black said in a statement.
The VCR Team will use intelligence or data-driven analysis to identify specific offenders and street segments across the city.
"Specifically, this group will come together ... to target those known to be involved in the violence while at the same time seeking to dismantle the larger criminal groups," Black said.
Most of the VCR team will be deployed from 11 a.m. to midnight and will not deplete normal district patrol functions, Black said. Council-approved overtime will be used to supplement shifts.
"As part of the city’s commitment to the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV), a number of targeted enforcement measures are already underway but will benefit from an orchestrated prioritized approach to ensure a more timely resolution by removing dangerous offenders off the street," Black said.
If you have information about a crime, you can help police by contacting Crime Stoppers at (513) 352-3040.
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