UC Police to Implement Interim Patrol Plan

To ensure the safety of the university community, University of Cincinnati Police will resume off-campus patrols in neighborhoods surrounding UC’s Uptown campuses, effective today.

As part of an interim patrol plan, UC Police patrols will be in accordance with Cincinnati City Council’s most recent actions, which restrict UC Police from traffic enforcement.

“UC Police play an important and effective role in maintaining a safe campus environment for our students, faculty and staff. I have received many requests for their return to service. Resumption of our UC patrols will be a reassurance to many members of our community, including parents, as we prepare for another academic year to begin,” said UC President Santa J. Ono.

University leaders have met with and discussed details of the interim redeployment plan with city leaders including the city solicitor and Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell.

“Chief Blackwell and I met with President Ono to discuss how we can best work together to preserve the safety of the Uptown area as the start of school approaches,” said UC Police Chief Jason Goodrich. “Our mission is to be visible and to serve and protect our students, faculty, staff and visitors. Chief Blackwell understands that.”

“The safety of the young people in and around the University of Cincinnati is critically important to the Cincinnati Police Department and the community, as such, we are committed to the partnership between our agencies that contribute to the vitality of our region,” said Chief Jeffrey Blackwell, Cincinnati Police Department.

The UC Police Interim Patrol Plan includes the following:

• UC Police will not engage in proactive traffic or pedestrian enforcement

• UC Police will conduct high visibility patrols to enhance safety of the UC community

• UC Police will provide back up to Cincinnati police for traffic stops, if requested

• UC Police will continue to respond to calls for service

• UC Police will take immediate action to stop crimes in progress

The same level of UC Police and security personnel, as deployed during previous semesters, will patrol area streets and work hand in hand with Cincinnati police and other community partners to prevent crime and provide vital safety services.

Additionally, Cincinnati police will continue to provide extra patrols in neighborhoods surrounding the Uptown area.

The university suspended off-campus patrols by UC Police following the death of Samuel DuBose during a traffic stop on July 19. Representatives from the university and City of Cincinnati have been working with community leaders to discuss how to best move the university and city communities forward.

On Aug. 4, President Ono appointed Robin Engel, an internationally respected criminal justice researcher, as UC’s vice president for safety and reform. Engel is tasked with coordinating the multiple external investigations and reviews planned for the University of Cincinnati Police, making use of her expertise in data-driven assessment and policy reform in order to work with external reviewers.

Last week, James Whalen was appointed director of public safety and S. Gregory Baker as director of police community relations. Both Whalen and Baker will work collaboratively with Engel to implement evidence-based, data-driven policing and strengthen relationships between UC Police and the Greater Cincinnati community. Goodrich remains as chief of police.

UC intends to contract with an external reviewer to assess UCPD’s operations, policies and procedures. Once the subsequent training has been conducted, a permanent patrol plan will be developed and implemented.