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Mayor Of Ohio Capital To Announce New Safety Initiatives
By: Associated Press
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The mayor of Ohio’s largest city is announcing new initiatives to reduce violence and improve community-police relations.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther also plans to outline proposed safety-related spending in his upcoming budget. Ginther’s planned announcement Thursday comes as the city faces a soaring homicide rate, with 113 slayings to date this year.
The city says police lack motives and suspects in one of every two of those homicides. Ginther, a Democrat, has acknowledged that many residents say their faith in the police department has been shaken.
He says community cooperation is important to helping reduce violence. Recent police shootings have alarmed local clergy and activists, who want more officers trained to deal with individuals experiencing mental health crises and trained in ways to eliminate racial bias.