Local & State
Cincinnati and UC police report safety gains near campus after violent semester start
PN Team • 1 month ago
Cincinnati police and University of Cincinnati police updated city council on efforts to curb violence near campus after a violent start to the fall semester. Officials said increased foot and bike patrols, road barricades, overtime funding and social media monitoring have improved conditions, though the semester began with seven reported shootings, including two homicides, near campus between the start of term and September 22 — more than in the same period in recent years.
Police said a new pattern emerged this year: organizers using social media to advertise large gatherings and encourage attendees to bring firearms. One such gathering led to gunfire near University Square in late August with no injuries. Monitoring led police to Ronquez Benton, who was later arrested on campus with a rifle after promoting another gathering; he faces charges including trespassing and weapons offenses. A passenger in his car was also arrested on a weapons charge. Police say no further gathering posts have appeared since. UC has doubled funding for off-duty officer patrols in nearby neighborhoods.
Sources:
Sentiment
- Cincinnati Cincinnati is portrayed as taking proactive, effective steps to curb campus-area violence, though the underlying crime context is negative, balancing out to a mild net positive for city police efforts.