'Modern policing': Cincinnati to study whether it has too many police districts

For nearly 50 years Cincinnati has operated with five police district headquarters.

Now the city is considering shrinking the number of headquarters, a move that could save taxpayer money and finally provide District 5 officers with proper working conditions.

As the city of Cincinnati continues to grapple with where to put District 5, which is temporarily located in a strip mall, it's embarking on a police facilities study meant to look at all five police headquarters and whether that's still the best operating plan.

The study will also look at the city's 26 fire stations. Several of them are in need of serious repairs and there are questions about whether they're all properly located to quickly get to where citizens live in 2022, compared to population density as it existed decades ago when they were built.

Interim City Manager John Curp said he could see a time when Cincinnati has three, instead of five police district buildings. Cincinnati is searching for a new police chief in the wake of the retirement of Chief Eliot Isaac. Any decision would be up to the new chief, Curp said.

"The goal is to allow the next permanent chief to review the facilities of the department and determine what facilities are needed for modern policing in Cincinnati," Curp said.

Fewer Cincinnatians, same number of districts

Patrol officers are assigned to beats and essentially work out of their patrol cars. But the district headquarters, strategically placed around the city, are important when big incidents occur like the 2018 shooting on Fountain Square. District commanders work out of headquarters. They are where officers gather each morning for roll call.

Fire and police union presidents praised the idea of a study because they've both routinely told City Council about facility needs, with no action. Firehouses are in need of repair, the department needs a new training facility and the West Side might even need another firehouse, said Fire Union President Matt Alter. Police Union President Dan Hils brought the District 5 headquarter needs to light.

In the early 1900s, the city operated police precincts. Enquirer records show in 1927, the city dropped from 10 districts to seven districts. In 1970, two districts were merged, leaving the city with six districts.

Two more of the districts merged in 1975, bringing the number to five, which the city still has today. At the time, according to U.S. Census data and the city police records, the city had a population of roughly 452,524 and a police force of 1,127 officers. Today that's fallen to a population of 309,317 and a police force of 966, although the city is supposed to have 1,059 officers.

What would happen to the buildings?

The issue is at the forefront after District 5 headquarters was closed in 2017 because it was cramped and crumbling. The headquarters was temporarily moved to a plaza in College Hill on Hamilton Avenue, but it's proven to be a tough place to operate since it's rented, shares a parking lot with a child care center and stores, and is in poor shape too.

Past administrations said they were looking for a new District 5 headquarters, which could cost as much as $20 million. "Are five districts the best way to operate in 2022?" is the question, Curp said.

The facilities study will cost around $100,000 and be included in Cincinnati's fiscal year 2023 budget, due out later this week.

Curp pointed out officers are mostly out on patrol. Even reports are written in cruisers, not in the district.

Two of the district properties would be attractive to developers. District 1 headquarters sits in the shadow of TQL Stadium and District 2 headquarters is in Hyde Park. Both need better parking options.

Selling those locations could pay for new ones, Curp said.

District 3, in Westwood, would not change. The headquarters was built in 2015 for $16 million and is exactly what the West Side district needs.

Curp said the study will look at what would be best for police and fire operations and at the most cost-effective solutions, but any decisions would be based on public safety needs, not just the cheapest options.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati considering three police districts instead of five