Safety
Focus Area Members:
| Member | Organization |
| Ellen Moore (Chair) | Community Crime Patrol |
| Robert Caldwell (Chair) | Weiland Park Civic Association |
| Cleve Rickseckler | Capital Crossroads |
| Councilman Andrew Ginther | Columbus City Council |
| Dr. Deanna Wilkinson | The Ohio State University |
| Dr. Kerns | Otterbein University |
| Gary Baker, President | Hilltop Area Commission |
| Ian MacConnell, President | University Area Commission |
| Jim Gilbert, President | Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9 |
| Jim Johnson, Safety Chair | Driving Park Area Commission |
| Judge Tim Horton | Franklin County Court of Common Pleas |
| Kevin Miles | Crime Stoppers |
| Martin Cataline, Safety Chair | Merion Village Civic Association |
| Paul S. Denton, Chief | OSU Police Dept. |
| Regina Johnson | Afire Enterprises LLC |
| Meetings: | Work Session 1 - Notes |
| Work Session 2 - Notes | |
| Work Session 3 - Notes |
Focus Area Description: The safety for Columbus
residents, businesses and
visitors has always been a high priority for the
city. As we continue to grow as
a community – and thinking beyond the bicentennial –
how best can we make
Columbus the safest community in America? What
facilities and resources are
needed, what role does the community and families
play, and how best do we
prepare for unforeseeable events that challenge our
safety forces?
Key Question: How can Columbus become the safest community in America?
Public Input about the Focus Area: This focus group asked citizens how to make Columbus a safer city. Safety is a necessary component for many other important improvements to be successful. A majority of respondents discussed reducing crime, limiting gang related activities, and having stricter gun laws to prevent guns from getting in the hands of criminals. Beyond these general comments, respondents talked about ensuring neighborhoods were safe and emphasized the human component of policing. Many wanted to step up block watches and other forms of citizen safety while other respondents wanted to see more police officers on bike or foot. Numerous respondents also saw improving youth programs deter them from committing crimes while focusing on more positive activities.
Public Input Themes for the Focus Area:
1. Establish and promote neighborhood block watches throughout
the city of Columbus. Contributors see the need to stop drug and gang related
activity as a high safety priority across the city. They see this as the root of other
criminal activities such as graffiti and petty theft. As well, respondents want
to emphasize neighborhood block watches that would be the eyes and ears of
police officers and help to self police many areas of the city.
2. Strategically increase the visibility of police bike and foot patrols
throughout neighborhoods. Respondents largely believe that localized
police patrols that are on foot, horse or bicycle would be successful in their
neighborhoods. Many comments in this category talk about the positive benefits
of having police out in the neighborhoods interacting with community members
on a daily basis and how that can stop crime from starting.
3. Reduce crime through street lights, surveillance cameras and
neighborhood cleanups. Respondents in this category focus on improving
surveillance in neighborhoods through security cameras, improved street
lighting and neighborhood clean up activities that improve the image of the
neighborhood and decrease the chances that crimes to physical property will
occur.
4. Enforce speed limits in residential neighborhoods and increase
safety on public transportation. A major threat to safety in neighborhoods
was automobile traffic. Some respondents note the use of cell phones as a
danger for pedestrians, bicyclists, and even other drivers while others felt that
automobile speeds are too fast on residential streets causing a safety threat
for children. Contributors recommended traffic calming measures and stricter
enforcement of speed limits on residential streets.
5. Create educational programs for at-risk youth and limit guns
through tougher gun laws. Many respondents see value in proactively
working with youth through after school programs or other forms of
engagement to keep them from entering into a life of crime. Comments also talk
about giving youth opportunities to work on productive activities that engage
them instead of turning their attention to criminal activities. Residents who
completed neighborhood surveys want to see less guns on the streets as several
neighborhoods reported this as a major problem in their community. Comments
suggest toughening gun laws to keep them out of the hands of criminals.