Columbus Division of Police

Columbus police have joined many other law enforcement agencies by adding drones to their fleet. The department already has a fleet of five helicopters.

Under Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant, the city has seen steep drops in homicides and assaults since both peaked the year she took office. Bryant's contract is set to expire in June 2026.

Columbus is searching for answers after a mass shooting at an AirBnB party on the city's south side on July 4 left a 17-year-old dead and five people injured. No suspects have been identified or charged.

The city reported 39 homicides so far in 2025 at the end of June. Last year, community groups aimed to keep the number below triple digits. That goal could be achieved this year.

Former Columbus police officer Adam Coy was convicted in November in the 2020 shooting death of Andre Hill.

The University of Chicago’s Policing Leadership Academy allowed Columbus Division of Police Commander Joe Curmode to learn improv from The Second City, a renowned improv-comedy club in Chicago.

The city will add two new Bell 505 Basic Aircrafts to its fleet after a unanimous vote by Columbus City Council Monday evening. Other city police departments like Dublin and county agencies like the Franklin County Sheriff's Office have started using a cheaper alternative: drones.

Columbus police body camera footage showed the teen who police shot in the leg and upper arm briefly ignore commands by police to get on the ground before crouching down. Police shot the boy and say they recovered a gun nearby.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Dublin Police will soon use drones as first responders in some cases. Dublin Police are also adding robots with 360 degree cameras to two locations in the city. The ACLU of Ohio wants regulations on this technology to protect the privacy rights of citizens.

Many police departments around Ohio use drones, or plan to buy them soon. Some officials view drones as a viable replacement for helicopters.