Cleveland Targets Crime Hotspots and Launches Youth Initiatives for Summer

The City of Cleveland is actively working to improve safety and community well-being this summer by focusing on four identified crime hotspots and expanding youth intervention programs.

Public Safety Director Wayne Drummond shared details at a recent City Council safety committee meeting, explaining that they have analyzed crime statistics related to rapes, homicides, felonious assaults, and thefts to identify these hotspots. “We’ve taken the crime stats, looked at a map, a hotspot map to be honest with you, and identified areas again east and west where they’re most concentrated,” he said.

Efforts include driving out to these locations to assess quality of life issues, such as vacant and abandoned properties. In neighborhoods like Hough, residents like Jean Young highlighted concerns about overgrown homes and recent crimes like car break-ins, emphasizing the need for targeted action.

While the city has not publicly disclosed the specific areas prioritized this summer, Drummond assured that resources will be concentrated heavily on vacant lots and abandoned homes in these zones.

In parallel, Cleveland is reinforcing positive youth development. Kareem Smith, part of The Safety Unit, is overseeing summer boot camps aimed at 6th and 8th graders. These programs are designed to improve academic performance and steer kids away from violence. Smith notes an expansion of the program, with plans to double participation to 50 boys and include opportunities for them to explore other parts of Cleveland and beyond.

“We’re going to take them out of the neighborhood, we’re going to take them out of Cleveland so they know what’s out there in some other places around Cleveland that offer other opportunities for them,” Smith explained.

Even as Cleveland intensifies efforts in its hotspots, the city assures residents that other neighborhoods will still receive ongoing services to support neighborhood revitalization and crime prevention.

This comprehensive approach aims to create safer environments and more positive futures for Cleveland’s residents, especially its youth. This summer, community members are encouraged to stay engaged and support these initiatives for a stronger, safer city.