Ohio is stepping in to help Cincinnati after a brutal downtown beating — caught on camera and now viral — sparked outrage and renewed concerns about violent crime in the city.
Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday that the state will deploy Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) resources to assist the Cincinnati Police Department. The move comes at the request of local leaders, including Mayor Aftab Pureval and Police Chief Teresa Theetge, who have faced growing pressure from residents alarmed by the incident and broader safety concerns.
According to a gubernatorial press release, OSHP troopers will concentrate on traffic enforcement, freeing up Cincinnati officers to focus on investigations and emergency response. The Patrol’s Aviation Unit will also be dispatched to support violent crime reduction efforts, assist in locating suspects, and aid in vehicle pursuit operations.
“Ohio essentially has a package of law enforcement support services the state can provide in times when local authorities could use some additional help,” DeWine said. “We’ve done this in other cities, and it has made a big difference.”
But DeWine isn’t stopping at patrol support. He’s also offering Cincinnati a slate of additional resources, if needed, to address the underlying issues contributing to the city’s crime problems. These include:
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Post-release monitoring: Assistance from the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the Department of Youth Services to locate adults and juveniles violating parole or post-release conditions.
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Intelligence support: Evidence analysis and intelligence gathering through the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center.
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Targeted enforcement: Ohio Investigative Unit teams could crack down on liquor establishments linked to illegal sales, drug activity, and prostitution.
DeWine, who has been governor since 2019, emphasized that this isn’t a takeover of local policing but a boost in manpower and resources to help stabilize a tense situation.
The high-profile assault, combined with ongoing concerns about crime in downtown Cincinnati, has put city officials under intense scrutiny. Whether these new measures will restore public confidence remains to be seen, but for now, the Buckeye State is making it clear: Cincinnati isn’t fighting this battle alone.
