Public Safety
Building a safe community means investing in safety forces and keeping Toledoans free from harm.
With Wade, we’ve seen the first increase in safety forces after 12 years in decline.
Photo: Mayor Kapszukiewicz speaks at a national conference on gun violence.
As the son of a retired TPD officer, Mayor Kapszukiewicz knows first-hand what police officers and firefighters put on the line to keep Toledo safe. The tragic and unnecessary loss of Officer Anthony Dia and Officer Brandon Stalker in the last year will always weigh heavy on the hearts of Toledoans. We also mourn everyday residents, especially young people, lost to acts of violence that have grown even more needless during the pandemic.
To combat these safety challenges, Mayor Wade has made key investments during every year of his Administration. The number of Toledo Police officers continues to increase under the Kapszukiewicz administration, including the recent graduation of 22 additional police recruits. In October, fifty new police recruits will begin the police academy and there will also be 50 new firefighters hired. In addition, officer training on de-escalation and bias are now transparent and open to the public (virtually).
Prior to his election, the number of police officers had declined for 12 straight years.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz is also proud of the key reforms that took place after the murder of George Floyd. Last June, Toledo police discontinued the use of camouflage uniforms and moved its internal affairs out of the Safety Building so residents would not feel intimidated if they chose to file complaints against officers. Additionally, all Toledo Police officers are now equipped with body-worn cameras.
In fact, the Mayor’s administration has tripled the City’s investment in the tools officers need to do their jobs better.
The Mayor’s strategy to reduce gun violence has started strong with the hiring of Commissioner JoJuan Armour who is responsible for working with residents, community partners, law enforcement, and violence interrupters to stem the tide of dangerous gun violence on our streets.
Keeping our residents safe is a solemn commitment, and Mayor Kapszukiewicz will continue to work every day to deliver.