CLEVELAND, Ohio — Amid a significant rise in gun violence across Ohio, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio announced the opening of the Northeast Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Cleveland.
“The Northeast Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center will allow us to leverage our partnerships and technological innovation to solve gun crimes and save lives,” said Attorney General Garland. “When it comes to investigating gun crimes, every day matters. Every day, another lead can run dry. Every day, a repeat shooter may shatter another family and another community. With this CGIC, it does not matter if a crime is committed in a city, a suburb, or a rural area. The law enforcement officers who investigate will have cutting-edge technology at their fingertips and a lineup of experts ready to assist.”
The announcement comes as Ohio grapples with a surge in gun-related incidents, prompting state and local authorities to seek more robust methods to combat this violence. The new CGIC in Cleveland aims to enhance the ability of law enforcement to investigate and prevent gun crimes through a combination of advanced technology and inter-agency collaboration.
“Following on the success of last year’s intelligence-driven gun crime initiative, this Crime Gun Intelligence Center puts analysts, agents, cops, deputies, and both federal and state prosecutors in the same room working on the same cases using real-time, state-of-the-art intelligence,” said ATF Director Dettelbach. “Every morning, they review key evidence from the previous night’s shootings to identify the shooters. CGICs like this make homicide cases, stop the next shooting, and help stop the crime guns that are getting to the shooters.”
The CGIC in Cleveland is the first of its kind located within an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force. This integration supports the use of Crime Gun Intelligence (GCI) and applies proactive investigative work, incorporating OCDETF funds and resources.
The center will utilize ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and eTrace systems to rapidly develop and pursue investigative leads. By centralizing expertise, including firearm evidence examiners, intelligence analysts, and investigators, the CGIC aims to increase case clearance rates and reduce violent crime rates.
“Prosecuting and preventing violent crime throughout our district is one core mission of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Lutzko. “Investigative data shows that the same guns are often used to commit multiple instances of violent crimes, without regard to city or county lines. That is why we most effectively combat violent crime — and the illegal firearms trafficking that supports it — through strong regional partnerships, collaboration, and technology.”
Over 30 agencies across federal, state, and local law enforcement are partners in this new CGIC, focusing on real-time comprehensive ballistics testing and firearms tracing. Federal and state prosecutors are also included to ensure the charging process is timely and effective.
The rise in gun violence has been a significant concern for Ohio’s cities. Recently, a spree of shootings in Columbus and Dayton led to several injuries and deaths. Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims, Jr. expressed his frustration, stating, “I am angered and disappointed by the recent shootings that have occurred throughout our community over the last two days. Such senseless gun violence in our city is unacceptable, and we cannot tolerate allowing our neighbors to be traumatized by the dangerous and careless behavior of some. As a community, we must step up to prevent illegal guns from getting into irresponsible hands, especially young people.”
Ohio has seen an increase in gun violence since enacting what right-wing activists call the “constitutional carry” law. Cities like Chillicothe have also reported a surge in gun violence over the past three years. Efforts to pass common-sense gun legislation, including universal waiting periods and red flag laws, have faced significant opposition. Cincinnati state representative criticized Representative Bob Peterson for blocking new gun legislation, stating, “Peterson kills any new bill in committee and has vowed to continue that if any new gun legislation comes in front of him.”
Local activists have called for change, emphasizing the need for stronger gun control measures to address the ongoing crisis.
The Northeast Ohio CGIC represents a crucial step in combating gun violence, leveraging technology and collaboration to make Ohio communities safer.