Public Safety

September 13, 2022

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions

Judge John West

Crime Trend Update

Director Eliot Isaac
Assistant Chief Dudley Smith

Department Update

Director James Whalen

  • MOU
  • Personnel Changes

Uses of Force, Investigations and Complaints

Director Eliot Isaac

Training

Lieutenant Bill Richey

Discussion/future meeting schedule

Judge John West


Minutes

Participants

University of Cincinnati Department of Public Safety

Chief Eliot Isaac
Asst. Chief Dudley Smith
John DeJarnette
Lt. David Brinker
Captain Jeff Thompson
Maria Madera

Community Compliance Council Members

Bleuzette Marshall
Judge West
Jack Martin
Bishop Hilton
KZ Smith
Rickell Howard Smith
Isaac Smitherman

Welcome and Introductions

Judge John West

Judge John West called the meeting to order and began the introductions of participants.

Crime Trend Update

Chief Eliot Isaac & Assistant Chief Dudley Smith

  • YTD-Concentration of student residence (CSR) areas consistent to 2020 & 2021 below crime trends prior to COVID 2019
  • Society Offenses-most areas consistent to pre COVID with exception to disorderly & weapons
  • Person Offenses slight increase in simple assault (any assault short of serious physical harm) but consistent to pre COVID numbers
  • Property crimes areas of increase in motor vehicle thefts & robberies
    • Centered around Calhoun and short vine where lots of restaurants people leaving car running (i.e., Door Dash)
    • Auto thefts by groups of juveniles going to suburban areas to steal high end cars and cars found here in Clifton
    • Dist. 4 made arrest and we noticed big difference in drop of numbers
    • UC was proactive and did crime prevention measures
  • Burglaries still down significant numbers including both burglaries and B&E (burglaries are defined as occupied structures B&E is unoccupied structures such as sheds etc.)
    • Prolific offender hit many businesses in area (UDF, Uncle Woody’s & Cactus Pear etc.) same suspect caught on video
    • Number of victims that are UC students are significantly lower prior to our prevention measures. Students are targets due to latest electronics. Community engagement follows up to help educate victims on how to avoid being victimized
    • UC went to 4 Prisons in Southwest Oh to talk to people who were in prisons for burglary in this area to understand why the committed, the methods they used and how to deter for future (locking doors, proper lighting, trim bushes etc.) Discussed how to get word out to 1st year students UC targets student 3 times a year with crime prevention information

Department Update

Director Eliot Isaac

  • MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between UCPD & City of Cincinnati are in effect as of August 1st.
    • UCPD able to respond to certain calls inside CSR such as felonies, misdemeanors, theft and traffic (traffic only when they present a risk of serious injury.)
    • UCPD Primary responder to businesses on north side of street such as Panera and Buffalo Wild Wings but not into the street, which falls under city jurisdiction. Does not include sidewalk unless someone in distress or needing help
  • Personnel Changes
    • Eliot K Isaac, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police
    • John DeJarnette, Chief of Staff
    • Maria Madera, Unit Operations Coordinator
    • Sergeant Robert Doherty promotion
    • Lauren Harmon, resignation
    • Officer Bradley Shultz hired (CPD academy)
    • Crime Analyst Michael Zidar resignation
    • Rachel Kleindorfer (hired to replace M. Zidar)
    • Captain Rodney Carter resignation
    • Captain process, Sergeant process in progress
    • Down 21 positions-lateral and new hire process underway
    • Diversity recruiting ideas efforts

Uses of Force, Investigations and Complaints

Director Eliot Isaac

  • Use of Force
    • April 3: A Police Officer displayed a conducted electrical weapon to arrest a suspect.
      • Consistent with training and Use of Force Policy
    • June 16: A Police Officer used hard hands to arrest a suspect that was resisting
      • Consistent with training and Use of Force Policy
    • August 18: Police Officers used hard hands to assist Cincinnati Police during an arrest.
      • Consistent with training and Use of Force Policy
    • August 23: A Police Officer used a conducted electrical weapon to arrest a suspect.
      • Consistent with training and Use of Force Policy
  • Internal Investigation
    • March 4: A Dispatcher was unprofessional to another employee during a discussion
      • Sustained
      • Dispatcher received a Written Reprimand
  • Citizen Complaint
    • February 1: A Police Officer was discourteous.
      • Not Sustained
    • April 14: Security Officer did not arrive to help a complainant find her car.
      • Exonerated
      • Security Officer was given a Coaching for failure to activate his BWC
    • June 24: A Security Officer was unprofessional using insulting language and inappropriately displaying handcuffs and mace.
      • Sustained
      • Security Officer received a Written Reprimand
  • Administrative Review
    • May 31: Unsatisfactory performance involving an officer and supervisor while investigating a suspicious incident
      • Officer and Sergeant received a Coaching
    • June 8: A Police Officer unintentionally discharged a Taser during roll call inspection.
      • Police Officer received a Coaching
    • June 12: A Lieutenant was disrespectful to a Dispatcher.
      • Not Sustained

Herman Goldstein Award

Assistant Chief Dudley Smith

  • UCPD awarded the prestigious Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing
  • Award recognized the UCPD’s burglary reduction efforts, which led to a 64% reduction in the target area compared to the three academic years before the COVID pandemic.
  • Narrowed down to 5 finalist – only two from US (UCPD & Kansas City)

Discussion/future meeting schedule 

Judge John West
  • Discussed pop up street parties
  • UCPD coordinated joint message sent to students
  • UCPD coordinated preemptive activity
  • UCPD coordinated meeting with Student Affairs, City officials to discuss these parties and possible initiatives to be put in place moving forward. Partnerships with Student Affairs, CPD and Buildings and Inspections will be ongoing.
  • UCPD coordinated with Ohio Liquor Control