The City of Elyria is proud to announce the launch of the Neighborhood Impact Unit (NIU), a specialized team of Elyria Police Officers dedicated to increasing community engagement and reducing illegal firearms, drugs, and violent crime. This proactive unit will focus on high-crime areas to strengthen the safety and security of neighborhoods across the city.
The NIU will deploy officers with targeted strategies including increased patrols, community engagement, and collaborative efforts with partner agencies. By focusing on problem areas and using data-driven techniques, the NIU aims to further reduce ongoing violent crime while preventing future incidents through early intervention and strategic enforcement.
Elyria’s Mayor Kevin Brubaker emphasizes the importance of this initiative: “When I was elected to this office, I made a commitment to all Elyrians that violent criminals will not be tolerated in this community. The Elyria Police Department has made fantastic progress around safety, but there’s more work to be done. I envision a safer community for everyone, and that means building safer neighborhoods through engagement as well as enforcement. The Neighborhood Impact Unit is yet another tool to help us get there.”
Funding for the NIU will be partially provided by a grant from the Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium with additional grant applications in the works. Captain James Welsh, the Patrol Commander that will lead the unit, says recent successes in recruiting additional officers to the department, combined with the grant funding, have presented an opportunity for success: “We are well-positioned to launch this unit now. Our staffing is up, and the NOVCC will be a big help here. Residents are ready for more engagement in their neighborhoods, and we are ready to collaborate with them.”
The NIU is expected to begin patrols this month.
The City of Elyria encourages residents to reach out to the Elyria Police Department with safety concerns and to report suspicious activity. Elyrians may call the non-emergency number at (440) 323-3302. To report an emergency or urgent matter, always call 911.
Residents can also submit completely anonymous tips by text or browser: Text TIPELYRIA, and your tip, to 847411. Or visit the following link: cityofelyria.org/department/police/tip411/
Further Enquiries:
Captain James Welsh
Phone: (440) 326-1305
Email: welsh@cityofelryia.org