CLEVELAND — Cleveland police could be getting some extra help patrolling neighborhoods near uptown.
"Because of how this neighborhood's growing. You know, it needs to be safer for people to feel freely, to be able to walk around and not have to worry that I'm gonna get robbed," says Diana Fiore, who grew up near Little Italy and now works here.
Over the years, she has seen an uptick in crimes.
"Break-Ins in the cars. You know, if there's any loose change, there's stealing things. And people's cars being taken," she says.
But changes could be coming soon, with more police patrolling uptown neighborhoods. However, the officers won't be members of the Cleveland Division of Police. Instead, Case Western Reserve University and University Circle police are looking to expand their territories.
These are institutions. These are large employers that are doing this. This is not a taxpayer expense," explains Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin.
Little Italy is in Griffin's ward. More patrols would happen there and in the Glenville neighborhood near Wade Park, both on the outskirts of a bustling University Circle college campus.
"They're doing it because of their own self-interest because they have students and they have institutions in that area that have several employees," Griffin adds.
However, Griffin believes the entire city will benefit from the extra help as Cleveland Division of Police officers can be shifted elsewhere. At a safety committee meeting, Interim Cleveland Chief of Police Wayne Drummond agreed.
"I believe it's a force multiplier. They have additional folks out there with pretty much having the same type of training that we have," Drummond explained.
Because CWRU and UC police are run by private institutions, this type of interdepartamental relationship is possible. Fiore says it doesn't matter what uniform officers wear, as long as the neighborhoods are safe.
"It makes me happy because over the last couple years, there has been an increase with crime around here," she says.
Cleveland City Council must pass an ordinance to allow the departments to move further into the city's jurisdiction. But the legislation does have widespread support and could go to a full vote as soon as May 9th.
More Headlines: