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CINCINNATI -- Starting March 24 at 8 a.m., Cincinnati Police will not respond in-person to calls for assaults without injuries, break-ins, criminal damaging and more.
“I want all of the residents and visitors to Cincinnati to understand that the Cincinnati Police Department is ready and able to respond to any emergency call from the public," Chief Eliot Isaac said in a statement Tuesday. "Our recently implemented Differential Response Plan is intended to limit the exposure of our officers and the public to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and our desire is to continue to provide the highest level of police service, while maximizing our efficiency and effectiveness."
Cincinnati police announced Monday that these calls will be referred for online or phone reporting:
- Assault reports where there is no medical attention necessary and suspect is no longer present
- Breaking and entering reports where there are no suspect(s) or possibility of property recovery
- Criminal damaging reports
- Dog bites
- Lost property
- Lost or stolen license plates
- Menacing reports, unless a suspect is expected, threatens to return or is part of the elements of domestic violence
- Phone harassment
- Property damage
These calls will be referred for phone reporting:
- Found property, which can be dropped off at a district lobby if necessary
- Theft reports for both misdemeanor and felony theft where there is no possibility of “immediate apprehension or property recovery” and the value stolen is less than $5,000. This does not include reports of stolen firearms.
You can report crimes online on the CPD website, here. If a report does not qualify for an online filing, call the non-emergency number, 513-765-1212, to help determine if a report can be made over the phone or in-person.
The Telephone Crime Reporting Unit (TCRU) line at 513-352-2960 will also be available to take these kinds of reports starting at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday. The line will be in operation from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In addition, Cincinnati police officers are only responding to auto collisions involving injuries or where vehicles are not drivable. If you’re involved in crashes with property damage only, exchange information with all involved parties and complete the State of Ohio Crash Report, form BMV 3303 available online. You can find more information on crash reports here.
Police also request that 911 callers meet responding officers outside of their location.
"To be clear, all of the calls for service listed in Differential Response Plan will be policed adequately and dealt with to remove/resolve the illegal acts," Isaac said. "None of those illegal acts are condoned and all will be suppressed/resolved. In addition, assaults and all physical harm and immediate threats to property will be responded to in person when requested. Whenever someone is in physical danger the police will respond in person. All other listed calls for service will also be responded to, and sufficiently addressed, but may or may not involve in person contact with the complainant."
For more information on coronavirus-related changes to CPD operations, click here.
