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Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati police outlined new public-safety measures following a series of shootings near campus. Police said social media has been used to organize gatherings, including events falsely advertised as UC-sanctioned. Officials said their response includes increased patrols, social-media monitoring, road closures and closer coordination between CPD and UC police.
The City of Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati police are increasing patrols and coordination after a series of shootings near the campus.
Police shootings strategy now includes monitoring social media, additional officers and efforts to disrupt large gatherings that officials say can contribute to violence.
Interim Cincinnati Police Chief Adam Hennie and UC Police Chief Eliot Isaac discussed the police shootings strategy Tuesday, Sept. 22, during a Cincinnati City Council Public Safety Committee meeting.
Police cite social media as a factor
Isaac said social media has changed how police respond to gatherings around the University of Cincinnati and surrounding neighborhoods.
According to Isaac, people have been posting locations for gatherings online and encouraging attendees to bring firearms.
Some events were also advertised as if they were sanctioned by UC, even though they were not, police said. Organizers sometimes changed locations at the last minute, making it more difficult for officers to anticipate where crowds would gather.
“They’re dropping locations and advocating individuals to bring firearms to the area; it has created a different dynamic,” Isaac said during the meeting.
Police said they are monitoring social media activity to identify gatherings that could pose safety concerns.
Police discuss arrest after UC-area gatherings
The authorities identified 25-year-old Ronquez Benton as someone they said organized several gatherings near UC.
Hennie said officers had previously warned Benton to stop organizing the events.
Benton was later arrested on UC property after police said they found him with a long rifle. A second person who was in Benton’s vehicle was also arrested after police said that person had a pistol.
Police said they have not seen additional social-media posts promoting similar gatherings since Benton’s arrest.
Officials did not say that all recent shootings around UC were connected to the gatherings.
Seven shootings reported near UC
There are seven shootings that occurred in areas surrounding UC between the beginning of the fall semester and Sept. 22. Two of those shootings involved homicides.
Police said the incidents did not all have the same circumstances.
For example, investigators said a Sept. 1 double shooting on East Shields Street stemmed from a dispute. A Sept. 11 shooting on Short Vine remained under investigation, according to police.
The distinction is significant because the social-media gatherings represent only one part of the broader public-safety concerns around campus.
Cincinnati and UC increase police presence
Cincinnati and UC police have responded with additional patrols and coordination.
The measures include increased walking and bicycle patrols, additional overtime officers and temporary weekend nighttime road closures and barricades.
UC police have also increased their presence in the CUF neighborhood, which includes Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview.
Police departments are also sharing information and monitoring activity that could indicate an upcoming gathering.
UC has previously said it provides more than $1 million annually to support enhanced Cincinnati police coverage in neighborhoods surrounding the university.
Crime data shows a mixed picture
Despite the recent shootings, police officials said some categories of crime have declined in neighborhoods around UC.
WLWT reported that homicides and aggravated assaults in Clifton, Corryville and CUF had decreased compared with the previous year.
Reported rapes increased in Corryville and CUF, according to the station’s review of neighborhood crime data.
The figures provide a broader picture of public safety around UC as police address the recent shootings and large gatherings.
Police strategy focuses on prevention
Cincinnati and UC officials said their approach is focused on preventing violence before large gatherings escalate.
Social-media monitoring gives police an opportunity to identify advertised gatherings, while additional patrols and coordination allow officers to respond when crowds form.
Officials also emphasized that the recent shootings should not automatically be attributed to the social-media gatherings.
The police response is continuing as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding individual incidents near campus.
FAQs
What role does social media play in the police response?
Police said social media has been used to advertise gatherings and share locations. Officials also said some posts encouraged people to bring firearms and that some events were falsely presented as UC-sanctioned.
What changes have Cincinnati and UC police made?
The departments have increased walking and bicycle patrols, added overtime officers, used temporary nighttime road closures and increased coordination. UC police have also increased their presence in the CUF neighborhood.
Has crime increased across all categories near UC?
No. Police data showed decreases in homicides and aggravated assaults in Clifton, Corryville and CUF compared with the previous year, while reported rapes increased in Corryville and CUF.
