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Police connect the dots to make OTR safer

Ann Thompson
/
WVXU

Cincinnati Police are pointing to CIRV, the Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence, as making a dent in Over the Rhine crime.

Shootings are down 74-percent and robberies 12-percent. Assistant Chief Jim Whalen says police are in the process of arresting 83 people, mostly drug dealers, who operate to the west of the trendy bar and restaurant area. They started identifying the suspects about four months ago.

Whalen, at a Wednesday news conference, pointed to a graphic, showing areas of violence. "McMicken Street runs right along the along the outer edge of the blue there and Liberty street runs basically a little bit below it.  And so you are talking north of Liberty over towards the Grant Park area."

So far they have confiscated 15 guns, 179 grams of crack-cocaine and $75,000 in cash.  Whalen said the recent actions target the social network that perpetuates fear and commits violence.

He says police are not finished identifying the so-called "gang activity" in Over the Rhine.

Ann Thompson has decades of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting.