Mayor Justin M. Bibb of Cleveland has announced promising results for the city's Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) initiative, marking a substantial decrease in violent crime rates since its implementation. According to the City of Cleveland, in a recent press release, the city has seen a 35.8% decrease in homicides and significant reductions in other offenses, such as grand theft-motor vehicles and felonious assaults, over 500 days.

"First and foremost, I want to thank the dedicated men and women in our Division of Police," said Mayor Bibb, acknowledging the cities' law enforcement for the positive trend. "Communities can only thrive to the extent its residents, businesses, and visitors are kept safe," he added. Making it clear that public safety remains a top priority, Mayor Bibb also stressed the need to continue these efforts to ensure lasting improvements in community safety.

RISE combines technological innovations and partnerships to enhance law enforcement capabilities. Under Mayor Bibb's administration, the city's SAFE SMART CLE camera-sharing program has seen a marked enlargement, with a pronounced increase in camera registrations. Additionally, the expansion of key partnerships with agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service and Ohio State Highway Patrol have intensified crime reduction tactics, leading to arrests and gun seizures, Mayor Bibb pointed out during the update on the initiative's progress.

Another significant aspect of RISE was the Summer Safety Plan, which Mayor Bibb launched earlier in the year and led to over 700 arrests. Nearly 400 guns were recovered, and hundreds of pounds of drugs were struck off the streets due to these efforts. These strategies are central to the crime rate reductions reported in the City of Cleveland's news release.

Recruitment has also seen a substantial boost, with the police academy admitting the most recruits this year since 2019. The Bibb Administration credits this to improved incentives for new recruits and current officers, including boosted salaries and streamlined hiring events. To further build on these gains, another expedited hiring event is scheduled for early January at City Hall, as mentioned in the official statement from the city.