Latest news with #CincinnatiPolice
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
Cincinnati police take to sky with new drone unit, expected to cover city by year's end
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's a Cincinnati police drone. During a June 24 news conference to address a crime wave across parts of the city, Police Chief Teresa Theetge announced for several months a group of officers have been taking the sky with a new drone program. Theetge said officers have been remotely piloting the small aircraft to assist with ongoing investigations, like wanted persons or traffic incidents. However, Theetge said the plan is to eventually have drones respond to calls for service across the city while an officer is on the way to a scene or in lieu of one entirely. "We get a radio run for a traffic jam, say Glenway and Warsaw, complicated intersection there. We get a call right now we send an officer, (and say), 'Can you go see what's going on at Glenway and Warsaw?'" Theetge said. "With the drone, within seconds, a drone can be up, over there, telling us what's going on and saving an officer a trip." Cincinnati police noticeably used a drone this weekend at The Banks after they say a young crowd became disorderly during the Juneteenth block party. The chief played footage of the drone hovering above the crowd, shining a spotlight down below, and said commands were given through the drone for the crowd to disperse. Theetge said the drone helped get the crowd of youth up to Government Square onto buses and back home. As city leaders respond to what Mayor Aftab Pureval described as an "unacceptable rise in crime" driven by youth, Theetge said drones will be one of the tools a newly announced roving task force will use to combat it. "These youth are going into these parking garages to either steal cars or break into cars," Theetge said. "They may be met with a drone that's following them to see what behavior they're up to." Right now, there is one supervisor and four officers assigned to the department's drone unit full-time, Theetge said. Come July, the chief said there will be more coverage across the city than they have right now. By the end of the year, Theetge hopes 90% of the city will be covered by drones as first responders. The program follows in the footsteps of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, who launched their own drones as first responders program in January, and other major departments nationwide like the New York Police Department. Additional details about the kinds of drones being used by Cincinnati police were not immediately available. The Enquirer has requested a copy of the contract between the department and the drone company. The sheriff's office partnered with SkyDio, a leading U.S. manufacturer of drones for police departments and the military. SkyDio works closely with Axon, a leading provider of body camera technology and other services for police departments, including Cincinnati police. The sheriff's office drone contract was bundled with their 10-year Axon contract for body cameras and other equipment. The SkyDio drones operated by the sheriff's office are placed in docks for remote takeoff in different parts of Hamilton County. They have a reported 45 mph top speed and 40-minute flight time, as well as a camera with zoom and thermal capabilities. Pureval acknowledged the privacy concerns from some citizens about the drone program, saying that Theetge and Cincinnati police have met with community council presidents to detail the program. "It's important to know that there will not be drones overhead in Cincinnati streets 24/7," Pureval said. "This is a tool that can be deployed intentionally, particularly in support of the new task force and the increase in police presence, working hand-in-hand." Theetge said the department will have strict guidelines on what officers can and cannot use the drone for, and "high expectations" they adhere to those guidelines. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati police: 90% of city to be covered by drones by end of 2025
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
7 shootings reported in Greater Cincinnati area during first weekend of summer
Several shootings were reported in Greater Cincinnati this weekend, including at least one that resulted in a death. Cincinnati police said there were four shootings between Saturday and early Monday. There were also shootings reported outside the city in Forest Park, Reading and Mount Orab. A recent spike in shootings, including the high profile killing of an Over-the-Rhine businessman, have put a spotlight on violent crime in the region. Earlier this month, there were three shootings in a single night leaving two dead and three more wounded. Shootings within the city limits of Cincinnati are down about 28% compared to last year. However, some neighborhoods are seeing a spike in crime. For example, overall crime in Over-the-Rhine is up 46% compared to last year. Police said a man in his 20s was shot around 3 p.m. June 21. The shooting happened in the 800 block of Oak Street. The victim is expected to survive. A 27-year-old man was taken to the hospital after a shooting in downtown Cincinnati the morning of June 22, according to Cincinnati police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham. The man was shot in the leg at Third and Walnut streets, and his injuries were not life-threatening. That same morning, a 38-year-old man was shot in the 800 block of Walnut Street in Downtown. He is also expected to survive. A 26-year-old woman was injured after being shot in the thigh and hit with shrapnel in her shoulder during a brawl in downtown Cincinnati early June 23, according to a report from Enquirer media partner Fox19. Police said a large fight broke out in the 600 block of Walnut Street around 3 a.m. All of the shootings in Cincinnati are under investigation. No information about possible suspects has been released and no arrests have been reported. A 34-year-old man was found shot in the chest in the parking lot of a restaurant in Forest Park on June 22, according to police. Officers were called to Park Place Restaurant just before 4 p.m. and found the victim, officials said. Police are searching for a white vehicle in connection with the the shooting. Investigators said the victim is expected to survive. The incident is under investigation. No arrests have been reported. Local12 reported that a woman was shot in the leg in Reading early June 22. Officers found the victim near the corner of Reading Road and Ridge Avenue at around 4 a.m. The woman is expected to survive. Police said they are still searching for the suspect. Gary Teetor, 39, was fatally shot in Mount Orab in Brown County on June 22 at a residence on Brookshire Way. Ryan Reinecke, 20, has been arrested in connection with the shooting, Fox19 reported. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati region sees at least 7 shootings over the weekend
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Yahoo
3 people hospitalized after shooting at The Banks, police say
Three people were taken to the hospital after a shooting near The Banks in early morning of June 5, according to Cincinnati police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham. Cunningham said that the shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. in the Smale Park area near the Washington steps. It was initially reported that the incident began as a fight that led to shots being fired. More: Here's the top priority for Cincinnati's new police task force, according to Chief Theetge Related: Cincinnati police take to sky with new drone unit, expected to cover city by year's end The victims were a 17-year-old girl, a 19-year-old man and another male of unknown age. Cunningham said that all three victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police have not stated if they have arrested anyone at this time. The shooting is still under investigation. During a June 24 news conference, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, Police Chief Teresa Theetge and other city leaders acknowledged the unease over crime among Cincinnati residents, particularly in neighborhoods in the urban core. The recent killing of Over-the-Rhine gym owner Patrick Heringer and a spate of shootings have left citizens on edge. The latest crime data provided by the city shows an uptick in crime of nearly all types citywide when compared with data from this time last year, particularly in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown. To help combat the spike, Theetge told The Enquirer that a new "roving task force" of 30 officers, equipped with the department's newest crime-fighting tools including remotely-piloted drones, will be focused on preventing crimes before they occur, rather than solely reactive. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report. Enquirer reporter David Ferrara contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 3 people hospitalized after shooting at The Banks
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man shoots, kills driver while getting out from his car in Walnut Hills, police say
A man with a pistol in his hand shot the driver of a car he was in while he was trying to get out, according to a Cincinnati police news release and court records. John Smith, 58, of Roselawn, is accused of shooting Jason Bennett, 40, while he was getting out from the backseat of Bennett's car June 28, court records show. While holding a handgun in his right hand, Smith allegedly tried to get out from the back of Bennett's car on the driver's side. Smith "pushed on the driver's reclined seat several times" before shooting Bennett in the head, according to court records. Around 10:30 p.m., officers were called to the 3000 block of Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills, where they found Bennett with a gunshot wound, Cincinnati police said in the news release. Cincinnati fire personnel then arrived and took Bennett to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where he died of his injuries, police said. Court records show Smith faces an involuntary manslaughter charge in connection with Bennett's death. Cincinnati police said they charged Smith with reckless homicide. The Enquirer has reached out to a Cincinnati police spokesman to confirm the charge. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call the police's homicide unit at 513-352-3542. Bennett's death marks the eighth reported shooting this year in Walnut Hills and the 105th reported citywide so far this year, according to city data up to June 24. Overall, reported shootings are down in Cincinnati this year when compared with the number of shootings by this time last year. In 2024, there were 135 reported shootings by this point in the year, city data shows. However, the number people killed in shootings citywide have remained constant. So far in 2025, there have been 30 people killed in shootings, the same by this point last year. In response to what Mayor Aftab Pureval recently called an "unacceptable rise in crime" across Cincinnati, Police Chief Teresa Theetge told The Enquirer proactive, targeted policing of crime hot spots will be a priority for the department's newest roving task force. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man shot driver in Walnut Hills while getting out of car, police say
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man hospitalized after being shot in Downtown, police say
A man was taken to the hospital after a shooting occurred in downtown Cincinnati the morning of June 22, according to Cincinnati police. Sgt. Philip Buccino. Officers were called to Central Parkway near the Kroger around 5:24 a.m. The man, who is Buccino says is between the ages of 30 and 42, was shot at Eighth and Walnut streets. He then ran up to Central Parkway and collapsed, Buccino added. Police and medical personnel responded and took the man to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Police do not have a suspect at this time. This story will be updated when information becomes available. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man hospitalized after shooting in downtown Cincinnati
