Cincinnati Police Department History – 1975 to 1999  

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The Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

“Preserving the History of Law Enforcement in the Greater Cincinnati Area”

 


 

Cincinnati Police Department History – 1975 to 1999  
1975
District 4 moved to 4150 Reading Road from 7017 Vine Street.
1975
District 7 abolished, merged with District 4, from 813 Beecher Street.
1975
Patrol Cars: Chevrolet Chevelles w/ 350 cu.in. engines purchased. First with power steering.
1976
6-Dec
124 officers laid off, including some hired as early as 1971, after a failed attempt to raise taxes.
1976
21-Sep
York, Col. Guy, Founder
Annual Shoots: Last Guy York Shoots; 8 Distinguished Masters (gold) Medals, including Sgt. Basham, PO Henze, PO Kramer, PO Meyer, Sgt. Ritter, and PO Zucker, and numerous silver medals for Masters, Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman (all silver) awarded.
1976
Leistler, Myron J.
Chief (28th), to
1976
Patrol Cars: Pontiac LeMans w/ 400 cu.in. engines purchased and equipped with first light bars and blue and white lights instead of red.
1976
Police Cadet program ended due to budget constraints.
1977
Com-Sec modified to Team Policing format with reduced sworn complement.
1977
Patrol Cars: Chevrolet Chevelles w/ 350 cu.in. engines purchased. First with air conditioning.
1978
Patrol Cars: color changed from light (City) blue to white with purchase of 1978 Pontiac Catalinas w/ 400 cu.in. engines and w/o air conditioning.
1979
1-Feb
Laid off officers returned to service.
1979
4-Dec
Tragedy occurred at the Coliseum just before “The Who” rock band concert. 11 people trampled to death when the doors opened. City of Cincinnati, Police Division, and individual police officers among those named in $26,000,000 law suit, but were dropped years later.
1979
May
Nearly entire division took off sick for one day to protest perceived lack of attention by City Council regarding 11 officers killed in the line of duty in 8 years.
1979
Communication Assistance Section formed.
1979
Panel established to study police safety equipment. Implemented recommendations included patrol vehicles with better spot lights, better flashlights, bullet resistant vests and clipboards, and .357 revolvers.
1979
Patrol Cars: Ford LTDs w/ 302 cu.in. engines purchased. This and the Crown Victoria has been the standard to date.
1980
Community Sector policing abolished in lieu of traditional three rotating shifts in each of five districts.
1980
Sidearms improved with the issuance of Smith and Wesson Model 65 .357 revolvers with 4″ barrels loaded with .38 Special +P+ cartridges.
1981
Crime stoppers Program established.
1981
Training: Self-Defense/Physical Fitness Instructor added to the Police Academy staff.
1984
Amman, Ltc. Edward P., Operations Bureau Commander
District 4 begins fixed shift and modified patrol plan as pilot.
1985
Whalen, Col. Lawrence E.
Chief (29th), to 1992
1985
Fixed Shifts established in all districts.
1985
Communications section began civilian by hiring 28 Assistant Operator Dispatchers and the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system became operational.
1987
10-Jan
Sidearms: Fraternal Order of Police President submits a request to Director of Safety David Rager to direct a study to ascertain the propriety of continuing the carrying of revolvers in lieu of modern semiautomatic firearms.
1987
24-Jul
Sidearms: Report written on semiautomatics and recommends the issuance thereof. Smith and Wesson Model 5906 9mm semiautomatics issued to all members by end of 1988.
1987
Mounted Patrol Unit was reestablished.
1989
Community Oriented Policing established with six officers assigned to three districts as pilot programs.
1989
Park Police Department merged with the Cincinnati Police Division.
1991
Knox, Ltc. H. Bruce, Committee Chairman
Fixed Shifts modified to four fixed and four rotating shifts in each district; called the Eight-Squad Plan.
1992
Nov
Snowden, Col. Michael C.
Chief (30th), to 11/21/1998, 6 years.
1992
Crime Reports: 49 Criminal Homicides, 480 Forcible Rapes, 2,290 Robberies, 2,964 Aggravated Assaults, 7,075 Burglaries, 17,690 Larceny Thefts, 2,115 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 580 Arsons.
1992
Calls for Service: 711,753; Emergencies: 409,635
1992
Fingerprints: Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) became operational as a combined effort with all Hamilton County law enforcement agencies.
1993
Fixed Shifts modified to four fixed shifts and personnel with less than two years seniority rotating.
1993
Crime Reports: 42 Criminal Homicides, 449 Forcible Rapes, 2,327 Robberies, 2,806 Aggravated Assaults, 6,154 Burglaries, 17,085 Larceny Thefts, 2,063 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 581 Arsons.
1993
Calls for Service: 716,379; Emergencies: 431,506
1993
Cincinnati named as North America’s Most Livable City.
1993
Bicycles: Mountain Bike patrol introduced as a pilot in District 4.
1994
1-Jan
District boundaries realigned in accordance with neighborhood boundaries and a Neighborhood Officer assigned to each of 52 neighborhoods citywide.
1994
18-Nov
Caskey, Capt. Phyllis A. and Kramer, Lt. Stephen R.
Academic Achievement: Division members finish first the Administrative Officers Course (AOC) at the Southern Police Institute (SPI), University of Louisville, in both the Spring and Fall sessions.
1994
Civilian Police Academy established.
1994
Crime Reports: 38 Criminal Homicides, 382 Forcible Rapes, 2,131 Robberies, 2,304 Aggravated Assaults, 6,021 Burglaries, 16,797 Larceny Thefts, 1,732 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 526 Arsons.
1994
Calls for Service: 633,104; Emergencies: 445,080
1995
Nov
Computers: Local Area Network (LAN) installed at headquarters connecting the chief, assistant chiefs, their secretaries and key commanders.
1995
Crime Reports: 51 Criminal Homicides, 408 Forcible Rapes, 2,155 Robberies, 2,027 Aggravated Assaults, 5,366 Burglaries, 15,011 Larceny Thefts, 1,913 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 319 Arsons.
1995
Calls for Service: 613,964; Emergencies: 432,657
1996
18-Oct
Web Site Committee formed to research and publish a web site; Kramer, Lt. Stephen R (Chair); Bolte, Lt. Michael; Katt, Spec. Daniel A.; Lind, CPA2 Thomas A.; Neumann, Spec. Michael; Ramsey, Lt. Frederick; Roddy, AT Larita; Smith, Sgt. Thomas D.; and Witt.
1996
28-Jul
Youth Services Section established and Community Relations Section disbanded.
1996
June
Management Analysis Unit established to provide administrative analysis, tactical analysis, and crime analysis.
1996
Crime Reports: 32 Criminal Homicides, 315 Forcible Rapes, 1,772 Robberies, 1,795 Aggravated Assaults, 5,675 Burglaries, 16,019 Larceny Thefts, 1,820 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 671 Arsons
1996
Calls for Service: 627,856; Emergencies: 444,227
1996
Patrol Cars: Outfitted with Smart Vector V-var emergency lights, Pro-Gard security screens, front mounted shotgun racks, fiberglass prisoner seats, and roof mounted vehicle identification numbers.
1996
Computers: Communications’ Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) upgraded to TCP/IP and integrated with the Division’s Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network (WAN).
1996
Computers: Four local area networks (LANs) added at Districts Two through Five bringing the division to five LANs and 50 workstations.
1996
Exclusion Zone established in Over-the-Rhine to deal with drug and prostitution related crimes.
1996
District 5 remodeling completed.
1996
Civilian Volunteer Program established in Personnel Section.
1996
Accreditation Team transferred to Planning Section.
1996
Student Police Academy established to allow middle school students the chance to learn about local law enforcement and interact with police officers. 75 students received certificates of completion.
1996
Cadet/Intern Program reestablished with six student interns.
1996
Violent Crimes Task Force established under the Criminal Investigation Section to make an impact on violent crime in the Greater Cincinnati area, focusing on individuals involved in serious violent crime.
1996
Complement: 1,259; 981 Sworn & 278 Non sworn; 1 Colonel (chief), 4 Lieutenant Colonels (assistant chiefs), 16 Captains, 41 Lieutenants, 131 Sergeants, 137 Police Specialists, 651 Police Officers.
1996
Budget: $65,372,930 (City: $586,800,000)
1997
Complement – 1,297, 996 sworn, 301 non sworn, 1 Chief, 4 Assistant Chiefs, 16 Captains, 44 Lieutenants, 151 Sergeants, 137 Specialists, 643 Police Officers.
1997
20-Jan
Fixed Shifts re-established in all districts.
1997
1-Apr
Smith, Sgt. Thomas D., Webmaster
Web Site, http:\\www.CincinnatiPolice.org published. Received more than 35 local, state, national and international awards in first year.
1997
24-Jul
Kramer, Lt. Stephen R., Commander
Data Management Section established to combine Records, Information Systems, and Management/Crime Analysis under one data management umbrella.
1997
1-Jan
National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) adopted for reporting crime, replacing Universal Crime Reporting (UCR).
1997
1-Jan
Local Law Enforcement (LLE) Network established bringing together all crime reported and arrests in Hamilton County, to any of 46 law enforcement agencies, into one database.
1997
16-Dec
Personal Crimes Unit received the Governor’s Community Policing Award of Excellence for their Special Needs Initiative.
1997
July
McAlpin, LTC Walter F., Chairman
Accreditation conferred upon the Division by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). First major city in Ohio and 7th largest in United States.
1997
Population – county – 866,228, 414 Square Miles
1997
Population – City – 364,040, 78.6 Square Miles, 920 miles of paved roads.
1997
Crime Reports: 40 Criminal Homicides, 339 Forcible Rapes, 1,671 Robberies, 1,296 Aggravated Assaults, 5,263 Burglaries, 15,196 Larceny Thefts, 2,226 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 550 Arsons.
1997
Calls for Service: 919,975; Emergencies: 482,670
1997
Budget: $68,786,450 (City: $606,100,000)
1997
Drug Testing: Random, mandatory drug testing began.
1997
Computers: The five local area networks (LANs) are integrated, creating the first wide area network (WAN).
1997
Community Oriented Policing: Awarded “Best Community Police Program” by National League of Cities.
1997
Citizen Complaint Resolution Process (CCRP) established as a pilot in District Three.
1997
Bean Bag shotgun adopted as another less-then-lethal weapon for dealing with the mentally impaired.
1997
Regional Community Policing Institute established as a partnership of the Division and the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development.
1998
Complement – 1,302, 1004 sworn, 298 non sworn, 1 Chief, 4 Assistant Chiefs, 17 Captains, 42 Lieutenants, 151 Sergeants, 138 Specialists, 650 Police Officers.
1998
24-Jul
Twitty, Ltc. Ronald
Black promoted to assistant chief for first time.
1998
February
Citizen Complaint Resolution Process (CCRP) established division wide.
1998
Cincinnati Strategic Targeted Intervention (CINSITE) program initiated to use information technology in an attempt to predict criminal activity and/or trends.
1998
Population – county – 866,228, 414 Square Miles.
1998
Population – City – 364,040, 78.6 Square Miles, 920 miles of paved roads.
1998
Crime Reports: 25 Criminal Homicides, 403 Forcible Rapes, 1,350 Robberies, 1,240 Aggravated Assaults, 5,385 Burglaries, 14,954 Larceny Thefts, 2,176 Motor Vehicle Thefts, and 444 Arsons.
1998
Calls for Service: 667,345; Emergencies: 491,000
1998
Budget: $73,144,410 (City: $622,571,600)
1999
7-Mar
Streicher, COL Thomas H., Jr.
Chief (31st), last Chief to be selected apolitically by Civil Service.

 

 

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