COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police is enlisting the help of trained homicide investigation experts in an effort to decrease deadly crime in the city, while also bringing closure to families left searching for answers.
Currently, the rate of homicides solved by criminal investigators sits at 50% in Columbus, lower than the national average of 60%.
That’s in part why Columbus Major Crimes Commander Robert Strausbaugh initiated a training course within the department. The course dives into topics like best practices for homicide investigators, what goes into the interview and interrogation process, and the roles and responsibilities of a homicide unit.
Detective John Skaggs is one of the course’s presenters. Skaggs served more than 30 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, during which he handled 170 murder investigations and oversaw more than 250.
He now provides homicide and non-fatal shooting training to police agencies across the country.
Skaggs said the toughest homicides to solve are those involving gangs or drugs because witnesses are less likely to talk and give vital information.
“Interview skills, getting that cooperation from those people that are skeptical of cooperating with the police,” Skaggs said.
The detective added making arrests in homicide cases can prevent future crimes.
“The biggest benefit in solving these crimes and getting these violent killers and people who are injuring other people off the streets is to prevent the next crime from happening,” Skaggs said
The training session comes as violent crime continues to rise at unprecedented levels in Columbus. There have now been 80 homicides in Columbus this year alone, double the amount of this same time last year.
Strausbaugh has said the goal of the training is not only to potentially decrease those deaths, but also to bring closure to families who have lost a loved one to an unsolved homicide in the community.
“We want people to be safe. My ultimate goal is to provide the best service that I can for the citizens,” Strausbaugh said.