COLUMBUS, Ohio — For families who have lost a loved one to violence, they know nothing will bring that person back, but an arrest in the case gives them some peace. Columbus police are working to give more families the justice they deserve.
After back-to-back years of record-setting homicide numbers in 2020 and 2021, the Columbus Division of Police knew they needed to do something different to solve more cases, giving more families closure.
“The chief's commitment to focusing on violent crime. She has doubled detectives in other violent crime areas like felonious assaults. The focus on violent crime is another huge factor,” said Columbus Police Major Crimes Commander Shaun Dillon.
In 2022, Columbus Police solved 63% of the homicides that happened that year. It increased to 75% last year, and this year detectives have solved 77% of the homicides.
“We take a lot of pride in our commitment to bringing justice to the families and victims of violent crime. I think our solve rates reflect that,” Dillon explained.
In 2021 the homicide unit moved from three shifts to six teams. Dillon says that change has made a big difference in helping solve more homicides, helping more families.
“It's always a good feeling to be able to give closure to a family, answers, also to hold the suspects accountable for their actions. It's a good feeling, but there's work to be done. There is someone out there watching this whose case is unsolved,” Dillon said.
So far this year in the city of Columbus there have been 115 homicides, compared to 147 at this time last year, and 132 the year before.
Dillon says with every homicide solved could mean a homicide prevented.
“We focus on the small number of violent offenders who commit most of the crimes. Any time we can take a violent offender off the street, that's one homicide that might not occur,” Dillon said.
Dillon also says the community has been a part of the solution with all the witnesses who have been willing to come forward.