Latest news with #policing
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Here's the top priority for Cincinnati's new police task force, according to Chief Theetge
Proactive, targeted policing of crime hot spots across Cincinnati will be the priority of the police department's new "roving task force," Police Chief Teresa Theetge said in an interview with The Enquirer. A dedicated task force of 30 officers, equipped with the department's newest crime-fighting tools including remotely-piloted drones, will use data to address what Mayor Aftab Pureval described recently as an "unacceptable rise in crime" across the city, particularly in urban core neighborhoods. The majority of the department's roughly 950 officers are on uniformed patrol, responding to "calls for service" across Cincinnati based on 911 calls and other day-to-day occurrences. Given the perennial issue of being short police officers, Theetge said uniformed patrol can't keep up with groups of people committing crimes. That's where the task force comes in. Theetge said the task force, operating through at least October, will be proactive, focused on preventing crimes before they occur, rather than solely reactive. Officers will be covert and respond in numbers to address criminal activity. "There's definitely demand for it," Theetge said. "People in our city shouldn't have to worry about coming downtown to have dinner and come back to their car to find out it got broken into." There has been increased attention on crime in the city since the killing of Patrick Heringer during a burglary of his Over-the-Rhine home June 4 and a spate of killings citywide that have followed. The task force is a direct response to calls for additional police presence and resources in areas such as Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, where there have been nearly double the number of burglaries, breaking-and-entering incidents and thefts from cars so far this year. Theetge said much of that crime is driven by youths, who she has said roam around neighborhoods, breaking into cars and looking for guns. While violent crime is a focus for the task force, which has the majority of its officers from the city's violent crime squads, Theetge has said property crimes such as car break-ins are a priority. It's not the first time Cincinnati police, or other departments across the country, have established a task force to respond to an uptick in crime. Cincinnati police operated what was called the "Vortex unit" for several years in the '90s and 2000s. That unit conducted sweeps through high-crime areas such as Over-the-Rhine before criticism over its "zero-tolerance policing" strategy led to its disbandment. More: 'Unacceptable rise in crime' across downtown neighborhoods prompts city leaders to respond Theetge said the roving task force is not the return of the Vortex unit but acknowledged the two share some similarities. "Vortex did more drug investigations. They were a bit similar in that they addressed hot spots," Theetge said. "This is more focused on the data driving us where to be and why. We did not have that capability to the degree that we do now." Following the data, Theetge plans to measure the task force's success based on reversing the recent uptick in crime. Heringer's widow, Sarah Heringer, has made public calls for proactive policing in her neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine off East McMicken Avenue. Theetge has indicated those calls are being answered. North of Liberty Street, and for years surrounding a Shell gas station in between Vine and Walnut streets, has been a hot spot for criminal activity. Now, that stretch of the neighborhood will be one of the focus areas for the new task force, Theetge said. As an example of one landmark in the area, 10 years ago, Cincinnati police were stopping at the Shell an average of 2.5 times per day. While that average has improved, officers still make an average of two visits every day to the gas station, according to an Enquirer review of calls for service. Earlier in June, two people were shot, one fatally, on Walnut Street near the Shell station. The other man who was shot told The Enquirer – on the condition of anonymity because he fears retaliation – he is a rideshare driver who was struck as he was driving by. A bullet came through his windshield and hit him in the shoulder, he said. Theetge's 30-plus-year career with the Cincinnati police has followed Over-the-Rhine's continued redevelopment up toward and beyond Liberty Street. As it continues, Theetge says the roving task force will continue to address pockets of crime and said police are an integral part of pushing that development forward. "It's a slow process. It's slow progress. But it's absolutely doable," Theetge said. "Whatever the police can do to facilitate that development, we're committed to doing that." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's new police task force laser-focused on 'pockets of crime'
CTV News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
N.S. mayors concerned for local police services as province pushes larger RCMP role
The RCMP logo is seen outside the force's 'E' division headquarters in Surrey, B.C., on March 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck HALIFAX — Some Nova Scotia mayors say they are wary of the province's plan to increase the role of the RCMP. Under changes announced Wednesday, Justice Minister Becky Druhan said the government wants to use the RCMP as a provincial police force. Druhan told reporters that the government is auditing local police forces, and those that can't meet provincial standards would be replaced by the RCMP. She also said that all new municipal contracts for specialized services such as dive or dog teams will have to be awarded to the federal police force. Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says his community is happy with its local police, adding that most of the other 10 municipalities with their own police forces are happy with theirs. Mitchell questions whether the RCMP can meet the staffing levels required to provide specialized services across the province. Truro Mayor Cathy Hinton says residents are worried that changes contemplated by the province will raise costs for municipal policing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
The Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England
COPS are still logging bizarre hate incidents — including the singing of anthem Flower of Scotland at an English railway station. An investigation by The Sun reveals how police — under fire for not catching shoplifters and burglars — are wasting vital time on the 'non-crime hate incidents'. 5 5 Former officers and MPs want the 'crackers' cases scrapped. Police stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints — including one about a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo. Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway. Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo. The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024. The true figure would be much higher as 15 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales did not disclose figures under a Freedom of Information request. MPs and top cops led calls to stop wasting time on NCHIs, which are recorded where no criminal offence has been committed but the 'victim' feels it was motivated by hate or prejudice. Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick said: 'We have lost the plot. 'Practically everyone in the country will have at some point said something that would get them reported. 'This is crackers. Moment Met boss dodges question over two-tier policing of riots by grabbing reporters' mic & chucking it to floor 'We need to scrap NCHIs altogether.' Reform UK's Lee Anderson added: 'The majority of these incidents are reported by total snowflakes. 'These are the people who should be charged with wasting police time. 'Officers should be investigating proper crimes not hurt feelings. 'Those who complain should go and live on a remote island with some of our celebrities who make a living out of being offended.' The person in Bedfordshire upset by the Where's Wally tattoo also complained of the supervisor asking about their shoes and requests to remove their durag hair covering. The incident was recorded as 'sex-based and hate-motivated'. The police log obtained by The Sun says: 'The victim felt irritated for the rest of the shift as it was mean and uncalled for.' In Dunstable, Beds, a complainant said they heard a neighbour gossiping on their Ring doorbell, then point at their home and make an insult before walking off. Bedfordshire Police said: 'We record hate related incidents in line with national guidance set out by the College of Policing.' South Wales Police, which dealt with the trans row, recorded 40 NCHIs last year. It said one 'perpetrator' was aged nine, another 11. Humberside Police logged the case where a person put on an Indian accent to order a curry. West Yorkshire Police handled 175 complaints — one from a man who claimed his bins kept being moved because he was gay. Forces that did not provide their figures included London's Met — the UK's biggest — West Midlands, Essex and Devon and Cornwall. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'These examples are ludicrous and a total waste of police time. 'Waste of police time' 'It is not a policing matter if someone is singing Flower of Scotland. 'If it were, the whole of the Met would have to be deployed when Scotland play rugby at Twickenham. 'These are mostly juvenile situations and officers should not lower themselves to getting involved. 'It is a serious problem when a lot of actual crimes are not investigated.' NCHIs were introduced in 2014 and are meant to help forces develop intelligence on situations that could potentially escalate. In some cases, cops speak to those supposedly committing offences. An NCHI can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. A report this week by think tank Civitas called for NCHIs to be abolished. Author Hardeep Singh said: 'Some activist groups continue to weaponise them against their political opponents. "We've seen the most absurd incidents being recorded over the years, and precious police resources should not be drained by policing online ideological disputes.' 5 5 In 2023, the Home Office issued guidance instructing officers to consider if there was genuine hostility in the incident or whether it could be considered freedom of speech. Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the policy of recording NCHIs had 'passed its sell-by date'. Sir Andy Marsh, head of standards body the College of Policing, called on officers to use more 'common sense' and signalled that the recording of NCHIs needs to be scrapped. He said: 'What we've wrapped up that objective in doesn't stand up to scrutiny on many occasions under the common-sense test. 'We need to fix it. 'I don't want to be policing freedom of speech.'
BBC News
19 hours ago
- BBC News
'Abhorrent' former West Mercia Police officer banned
A former West Mercia Police officer who admitted sexual assault has been banned from policingMark Slade, 50, pleaded guilty at Maidstone Magistrates' Court 25 September 2023 to five counts of sexual assault by touching while on a night out in the town in January that was based at the West Mercia Police headquarters in Hindlip, Worcestershire, when he committed the at a misconduct hearing on Friday, which concluded Slade would have been dismissed had he not already resigned, Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones said: "The actions of Mark Slade were abhorrent, and he has no place in policing." She added: "We expect the highest standards of our officers both on and off duty and he breached those standards in the most deplorable way."I'd like to thank our colleagues at Kent Police for pursuing the allegations against Slade and helping to get justice for the victims of his offences, who bravely came forward to report him."The actions of a small minority, like Mark Slade and others we have dismissed recently, erode the public's trust and confidence in policing. "The overwhelming majority of our officers and staff are trustworthy, hardworking and dedicated to serving the public during their times of greatest need."Slade was suspended by the force in February 2023, within 72 hours of his arrest by Kent Police, and resigned in September hearing found that Slade's crimes amounted to gross misconduct and seriously breached the standards of professional the outcome, Slade has been added to the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from working for a UK police service in the future. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
CTV News
21 hours ago
- CTV News
Oak Bay, Saanich policing agreement nears expiry as negotiations unfold
A policing agreement that ensures Oak Bay, B.C. has the resources required to investigate major crimes is expiring in days. A policing agreement that ensures Oak Bay, B.C., has the resources required to investigate major crimes is expiring in days, with no immediate indication of renewal. The five-year service agreement between the Oak Bay Police Department (OBPD) and the Saanich Police Department (SPD) expires on Monday. The contract enables Saanich police to assist with or take the lead on major crime investigations in Oak Bay, which is a small community with a small police department. 'We are actively engaged in the negotiation process,' OBPD Chief Julie Chanin said in an email to CTV News. If those discussions continue beyond Monday, Chanin said the departments can agree on an extension. 'During negotiations, all services provided by SPD under the current agreement will remain uninterrupted,' an SPD spokesperson said in a statement. The departments first signed a service agreement in 2007 and have renegotiated it several times, most recently in the summer of 2020. The Saanich Police Association said it was consulted during the early stage of negotiations for a new agreement, but it isn't part of the current discussions, which are confidential. 'Like our partners in the Oak Bay Police Association (OBPA), we await a final decision — particularly as it relates to roles and responsibilities in what continues to be a resource-challenged environment,' union president Jason Whittaker said in an email. The OBPA could not be reached for comment. Oak Bay will not go without Former B.C. solicitor general Kash Heed said if the contract were to collapse, Oak Bay would still have access to investigative support. 'Ultimately, it's the responsibility of the solicitor general to make sure Oak Bay residents are looked after by their police service,' Heed said in an interview. 'If that is not possible, (the solicitor general) has the authority under the B.C. Police Act to intervene and make sure that takes place.' That means the province could tell OBPD to contract the RCMP or another agency on an as-needed basis, Heed said. 'It's down to a negotiation tactic that may go down to the wire, but at the end of the day, you have to ensure the residents in Oak Bay will be looked after with this comprehensive police service,' he said. As the departments negotiate, the nearby municipality of Esquimalt is eyeing alternatives to its agreement with the Victoria Police Department. Both cases serve as an argument for regionalized policing, Heed said. 'You can see how costly it is to police these balkanized areas; how ineffective it is,' he said. 'When you cross the street, you're in a different jurisdiction and you may get a different delivery of police service.'
