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Ohio AG speaks to Ohio FOP conference

Ohio Attorney General website

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said law enforcement in the state is strained because of declining resources to pay for cops on the street.

He was in Cincinnati Friday to deliver opening remarks at the Ohio FOP annual conference.  

“I think if you talk about the state of law enforcement, it is strained in this state,” DeWine said.  “There are probably fewer people in most departments than were there 5 years ago.”

DeWine said most of that strain comes from budget cuts that have reduced or capped the number of police officers in many communities.  He said his department exists to help local law enforcers.

“I’m just here to thank them for the great job that there doing,” DeWine said.  “And talk about our continued working together and our cooperation to help protect Ohio families, which is really what our whole job is.”

DeWine said the AG's office has been working to increase DNA sampling, testing rape kits that have been sitting on some police departments shelves for nearly 20 years and taking training programs to police officers rather than have them drive to Columbus.  

The Ohio FOP meeting in Cincinnati follows the group's national convention which concluded Thursday.

Jay Hanselman brings more than 10 years experience as a news anchor and reporter to 91.7 WVXU. He came to WVXU from WNKU, where he hosted the local broadcast of All Things Considered. Hanselman has been recognized for his reporting by the Kentucky AP Broadcasters Association, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists, and the Ohio AP Broadcasters.