Columbus Police Blitz to Continue in Summer

Mayor Ginther will announce the beginning of a year-round plan to an community-safety initiative that saw police “blitz” high-crime neighborhoods during the summer.

It is expected that during his State of the City address at the police academy on Thursday, he’ll announce changes to the initiative that has been the target of protests. Last summer two officers shot and killed 23-year-old Henry Green in Linden for an undercover operation — green had a gun and fired according to the officers.

Historically, crime peaks in the summer months. The city has approved a $750,000 budget for the initiative.

The protests have centered on the idea that these police blitz have traditionally targeted poor, black neighborhoods. Though officials argue that they will not use blitz in specific neighborhoods but instead use crime stats to figure out the worst areas to focus on.

To read more about Ginther’s initiative and the opposition, including the People’s Justice Project, click here.

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