RISE Gets Results: 500 Days Since It Was Announced, the Initiative Has Had Major Impact in Reducing Violent Crime Including ~ 36% Decrease in Homicides

RISE Investments Have Also Helped Bring in 134 Police Recruits This Year, Most Since 2019

Thursday, December 12, 2024 — Cleveland — Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced results of his Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) initiative.  Since it was announced last July, RISE has had a tremendous impact on reducing violent crime across the City of Cleveland.  The comparison period measures impact by looking at a 500-day window before (i.e. March 7, 2022 to July 20, 2023) and after (i.e. July 20, 2023 to December 1, 2024) the initiative was announced. City crime statistics show:

Homicides DECREASED -35.8%
Grand Theft-Motor Vehicles DECREASED -22.2%
Felonious Assaults DECREASED -9.1%
Robberies DECREASED -8.6%
Burglaries DECREASED -4%

“First and foremost, I want to thank the dedicated men and women in our Division of Police.  These results are not possible without the tireless work they put in every single day to keep our city safe,” said Mayor Bibb.  “From Day One, I have said that public safety is my number one priority as Mayor and that will not change.  Communities can only thrive to the extent which its residents, businesses, and visitors are kept safe.  Any goal that any city wants to achieve – whether that’s creating more jobs, improving parks and recreation programs, or attracting new businesses – is influenced by how safe its communities are.”

“While our RISE results are encouraging, now is not the time to let up.  My Administration will continue to do everything we can, but we need everyone to step up – register your cameras with our SAFE SMART CLE program, be an advocate who promotes the job opportunities we offer, and spread positivity around this great city that we all call home,” added Mayor Bibb.  “I want to thank those that have already bought into RISE and invite others to be a part of this SOLUTION.  There is much more work to do, but we look forward to keeping this positive momentum – hopefully with even more support – heading into the new year.”

Mayor Bibb’s RISE Initiative is the most comprehensive violence reduction and law enforcement enhancement plan the City of Cleveland has ever seen.  RISE is a portfolio of technological advancements, partnerships and enforcement strategies, and other Administration-led efforts to combat high levels of crime.  Multiple key investments were also made under RISE to improve recruitment and retention within the Division. 

Technological advancements led by the Bibb Administration include expanding the City’s SAFE SMART CLE camera sharing program and implementing ShotSpotter technology across all five neighborhood police districts.  More than 3,000 cameras have been integrated and over 1,300 cameras have been registered through SAFE SMART CLE – an approximate 1,700% increase since the program was expanded.

Key partnerships with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies were expanded to utilize additional resources and personnel towards targeted hotspots and coordinated violence reduction tactics.  These operations have produced significant, tangible results leading to hundreds of arrests, hundreds of gun seizures, thousands of pills and dangerous drugs removed from the streets, dozens of stolen vehicles recovered, and several lives saved. 

Mayor Bibb also launched his Summer Safety Plan earlier this year – a City-led approach that led to more than 700 arrests, nearly 400 guns recovered, over 4,300 traffic tickets issued, and hundreds of pounds of illicit drugs removed from the streets.

All of these strategic efforts, and others, were key components that contributed to the significant crime reductions announced today. 

Beyond the progress noted today, RISE has also generated significant recruitment results as three classes this year produced a combined 134 recruits that entered the City’s Police Academy – the most in a single year since 2019.  A class in March, which brought in 52 recruits, was larger than the previous four classes combined.  That class, and last week’s class of 46 recruits, both exceed the historical average of recruits hired (~ 45) dating back to the 1st Police Academy in 1937. 

The success seen with recruitment this year is, in large part, due to multiple key investments the Bibb Administration made under RISE.  Since its launch, the Bibb Administration hosted the City’s first-ever Public Safety Summit announcing a 50% pay increase, $5,000 sign-on bonuses, fast-tracked promotions, and other marked improvements for recruits; increased pay up to 25% for current officers, including a substantial increase last October that made the Division’s top patrol officers the highest paid among the largest cities in the state; raised the maximum age to become a police officer; and hosted multiple expedited hiring events to streamline the application process.  More than 14% of the recruits that entered the Academy this year were between 40 and 54 years old – all of whom would’ve previously been ineligible had it not been for the Administration’s legislative change to increase the maximum age last year.

The Division of Police will be hosting another expedited hiring event that will take place on January 3rd, 4th, and 5th at City Hall.  Those who are interested are encouraged to pre-register online.  

Anyone who has questions should contact the Recruitment Unit at (216)-623-5233.