COLUMBUS – As the murder toll in Columbus continues to climb, Gov. DeWine has asked lawmakers to approve using $250 million in federal pandemic relief funds to pay for programs to help police fight violent crime and to aid first responders affected by pandemic-related stress.
DeWine says $175 million would go toward crime fighting measures such as targeting violent hot spots and reducing evidence backlogs and another $75 million would provide funding for wellness programs and to help recruit and retain first responders in agencies whose workforce shrank during the pandemic.
A 41-year-old woman shot to death in South Linden hours before DeWine unveiled his proposal on Monday, became the 183rd homicide victim of the year in Columbus.
Police say Danielle Davis was found in the 1300 block of Clinton Street just after 11:40 a.m. and was pronounced dead at the scene, Sgt. James Marable of the Columbus police Homicide Unit said.
The majority of DeWine’s proposal would go to support law enforcement efforts like multi-jurisdictional collaboration, “focused-deterrence policing,” gunshot detection and other ballistics technology and to help eliminate evidence testing backlogs at crime labs and coroners’ offices that have increased because of the pandemic.
Some of the funding will also be set aside for projects that boost communications, information sharing, and cyber security.
The rest will be spent on helping first responders confront pandemic-induced stress and other trauma, and recruitment and retention efforts to help restore pre-pandemic workforce levels.
The legislature could move a bill as soon as this week.