Columbus, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced on Dec 23rd, that 13 local law enforcement agencies will receive a total of $9.1 million to help prevent and investigate incidents of violent crime in their communities.

The grants represent the 11th round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. To date, Governor DeWine has awarded over $79 million to 159 Ohio law enforcement agencies as part of this program. Approximately $100 million will be awarded to local law enforcement agencies as part of the grant program in total.

“We must ensure that local law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to prevent and investigate violent crime, and these grants support that mission,” said Governor DeWine.

Agencies receiving grants to implement violent crime reduction strategies as part of this latest round of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program include:

The Akron Police Department (Summit County) will receive $4,954,443 to establish a crime center, purchase dash cameras, pay for overtime costs related to the department’s gun violence reduction efforts, and to hire individuals for 18 new positions, including 12 officers with bonuses.

The Cleveland Heights Police Department (Cuyahoga County) will receive $658,197.17 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime and for retention bonuses.

The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office will receive $101,983 to pay for training to establish its own crime scene unit and to purchase a crime scene scanner and other equipment to document and process crime scene evidence.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office will receive $53,928.16 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime.

The Mansfield Division of Police (Richland County) will receive $194,000 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime, to hire a crime analyst, and to fund a strategic recruitment campaign to boost its staffing levels.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will receive $185,000 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime.

The Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office will receive $349,169.35 to purchase new technology to assist in preventing and investigating incidents of violent crime; create a pre-arrest diversion program and hire a diversion coordinator; and build community collaboration and engagement to reduce violent crime by hosting a series of awareness events.

In addition, the following entities will also each receive grants to pay for retention and/or hiring bonuses to help maintain current law enforcement staffing levels, recruit new officers, and continue ongoing public safety services to prevent and investigate violent crime.

• Coal Grove Police Department (Lawrence County): $16,328
• Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Dept. (Cuyahoga County): $411,615
• Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office: $1,598,041.82
• Marietta College Police Department (Washington County): $193,395.06
• McConnellsville Police Department (Morgan County): $16,848
• Washington Court House Police Department (Fayette County): $327,750.46

MORE: Full List of Violent Crime Prevention Grants Rounds 1-11

Governor DeWine, in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, created the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program last year to give local law enforcement additional tools to address violence, including increases in crime associated with law enforcement retirements and resignations.

The program is funded through both the state operating budget and with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds that Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly have dedicated to first responders to counter various pressing issues exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including violent crime. The grants announced on Dec 23rd, are all funded through ARPA.

The program is administered by the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services within the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

Other assistance for first responders developed by the DeWine-Husted Administration includes the creation of the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio School Safety Center, Ohio Office of Law Enforcement Recruitment, Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness, Ohio Prisoner Extradition Reimbursement Program, Ohio Body-Worn Camera Program, Ohio Ballistics Testing Initiative, Ohio Crime Lab Efficiency Program, Ohio First Responder Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience Program, Ohio Court Backlog Reduction Program, Community Violence Prevention Grant Program, and the new eWarrant database.