Under Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant, Ohio's capital city has seen a steep drop in violent crime since both peaked in the last five years since she took the top job at the department.
Bryant told WOSU's All Sides talk show on Tuesday that it is sad and unfortunate that Vice President JD Vance said the downtown areas of Columbus, Canton and Akron are full of "lawlessness." Bryant said the reality is different.
"I think that a lot of communities, especially in the past four years, have done a really great job in being able to reduce their crime and bring lawfulness back into their communities," Bryant said.
Columbus' numbers follow national trends, but the drops in violent crime are still significant. Columbus has seen 47 homicides and 493 felonious assaults so far this year. That's a drop from 135 homicides in 2021 and 939 felonious assaults in 2023 when those statistics hit their historical peaks by the end of those two years.
Many cities saw spikes in crime in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bryant attributes this success to a combination of new tactics such as police officers investigating non-fatal shootings like they would homicides. She said police working with the community to re-build trust has also helped lower crime.
Bryant also said she was surprised to learn about President Donald Trump's takeover of Washington D.C. on Monday. Trump is deploying National Guard troops and federalizing control of the city's police force.
Bryant said she thinks residents in the community deserve a voice in regards to how they are policed and what that looks like for them.
"I think it's really important to make sure that the community and the residents have their voice and be able to ensure that their community is strong the way that they want it to be. And that it's policed the way that it should be," Bryant said.
Trump has threatened to expand this effort to other large, Democratic-run cities like Chicago and New York City.
Bryant said said she doesn't think crime is out of hand, like Vance and Trump have suggested.
Bryant said people may perceive there is more crime because of what they are seeing on social media. But, she said people have a right to feel that way if they or someone they love are crime victims.
"One is one too many, and I completely get that, and I empathize and sympathize with crime victims. And so if you're a victim of crime, you don't care if it's one or if it's 100," Bryant said.
Bryant said it is important to also recognize the progress police are making and the decrease in the total number of crimes.
Bryant's contract is up next June, but the city has the option to extend her contract for another five years. Bryant said she loves the job and Columbus, but didn't say whether she'd stay.
"I feel like it's really important for a chief to be able to continue to move the needle, to be able to continue making progress. So as long as I feel that I'm able to do that and as long the residents, the officers and the community want me, we'll see what happens," Bryant said.
