News Summary
Cleveland is experiencing a troubling rise in crime rates, prompting Representative Max Miller to call for the National Guard’s deployment for safety. With citizens fearing for their safety and businesses boarding up, Miller seeks support from Ohio’s governor to restore order. While some locals back the move, others argue for local solutions, highlighting differing views on how best to tackle crime in the city.
Cleveland is grappling with rising crime rates, prompting U.S. House Representative Max Miller to advocate for the deployment of the National Guard to help restore order in the city. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Times, Miller highlighted growing concerns among residents in suburban areas who fear entering Cleveland. As crime rates escalated, many small businesses in the area are reportedly boarding up their establishments in response to the increasing violence. Miller emphasized the need for safety, asserting that the citizens of Cleveland should not have to live in fear.
Currently, Miller, who represents Ohio’s 7th congressional district, is seeking authorization from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to deploy the Ohio National Guard to Cleveland. He draws parallels to a prior situation in Washington D.C., where the National Guard was mobilized under former President Trump, resulting in stabilized conditions and a reduction in crime. Miller noted his own personal connection to Cleveland, stating that the city is unrecognizable compared to the experiences of his childhood growing up in the area.
According to Miller, Cleveland’s violent crime statistics paint a troubling picture. In 2023 alone, the city saw approximately 6,100 violent crimes, yielding a violent crime rate of approximately 1,703 incidents per 100,000 residents. Notably, the first half of 2024 has registered 46 homicides, which averages out to more than seven a month. In light of these figures, Miller insists that the presence of the National Guard could help to bring down these alarming numbers. He argues that the deployment is not meant to militarize the city but to restore stability in neighborhoods with high crime rates and protect vital infrastructure.
However, Miller’s proposal has not been welcomed universally. Congresswoman Shontel Brown, who also represents Cleveland, opposes the request and views the deployment of the National Guard as unnecessary and counterproductive. She points out that crime in Cleveland has been on a downward trend, emphasizing the success of local initiatives designed to curb violence. Rather than deploying the National Guard, she advocates for local solutions and additional federal support to address the issue.
Dan Tierney, Deputy Director of Media Relations for Governor DeWine, stated that in Ohio, cities typically follow a home rule policy, meaning that local mayors request National Guard assistance if needed. As of now, Cleveland’s Mayor Justin Bibb has not made such a request. Despite different opinions on the issue, supporters of Miller point to ongoing staffing shortages within the Cleveland Police Department, which has seen 87 officers depart between January and September of last year. They argue that these challenges further underline the necessity of additional support.
Recent city initiatives such as the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) program have also shown promise. Since its launch, the RISE initiative has reported a 35.8% reduction in homicides. A crackdown on violent crime, identified as Operation 216, led to over 100 arrests that have contributed to diminishing the number of reported violent crimes in the city.
Local residents have expressed mixed feelings regarding the proposed deployment of the National Guard. Many fear it could exacerbate tensions rather than enhance safety in the community. As the city continues to struggle with crime, it faces differing perspectives on how to best tackle the issue, balancing the need for safety with the opinions and sentiments of the residents.
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Additional Resources
- News 5 Cleveland
- Wikipedia: Cleveland
- Spectrum News 1
- Google Search: Cleveland crime rate
- Beacon Journal
- Google Scholar: Cleveland National Guard
- Washington Times
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Cleveland
- Cleveland.com
- Google News: NATIONAL GUARD Cleveland
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CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER The CLEVELAND STAFF WRITER represents the seasoned team at HERECleveland.com, your premier source for actionable local news and information in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and beyond, delivering "news you can use" with in-depth coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news impacting the region—backed by years of expert reporting and robust community input, including local press releases and business updates, while providing top reporting on high-profile events like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Cleveland International Film Festival, and holiday parades, alongside key organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Great Lakes Science Center, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and healthcare like Sherwin-Williams and University Hospitals, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREDayton.com, offering comprehensive, credible insights into Ohio's vibrant landscape. HERE Cleveland HERE Dayton
