"My administration's top priority has been, currently is, and always will be ensuring the safety of our community," said Mayor Bib, the city's fourth Black mayor. "This operation is the latest example of the power of partnerships – something we've been focused on leveraging ever since launching my RISE initiative. We are greater when we work together, and our community is safer as a result."

Between November 28-and Dec. 20, the operation purportedly netted 56 arrests for the following alleged crimes:

"The Division of Police is consistently working to maintain the safety and security of our community," said Chief Drummond. "As a direct result of this operation we conducted, we were able to arrest many wanted fugitives in the city of Cleveland. This operation reflects the commitment and hard work our dedicated members do each day, working alongside our local, state and federal partners to remove these dangerous fugitives off our streets."

"Operation Clean Sweep" is the latest example of Mayor Bibb's RISE Initiative in action – the most comprehensive violence reduction and law enforcement enhancement plan the city has ever seen. RISE is a portfolio of multiple key investments, partnerships and enforcement strategies, technological advancements, and other Administration-led efforts announced over the summer to combat high levels of crime and to improve recruitment and retention within the Division, as it's experiencing staffing shortages that are reflective of police departments across the nation.

Since then, the Bibb administration hosted the city's first-ever Public Safety Summit announcing a 50% pay increase, $5,000 sign-on bonuses, fast-tracked promotions, and other marked improvements for cadets that resulted in a 45% volume increase in Q3 applications; has increased pay up to 25% for current officers, including a substantial pay increase in October that made the Division's top patrol officers the highest paid among the largest cities in the state; and raised the maximum age to become a police officer and hosted an expedited hiring event last month to streamline the application process, which resulted in over 600 Q4 applications.

Other recent RISE efforts led by the Bibb administration include expanding the City's SAFE SMART CLE camera sharing program; expanding ShotSpotter technology to all five neighborhood police districts; a new partnership with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department to enhance safety downtown; and expanded partnerships with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies at all levels for additional resources and personnel towards targeted hotpots and coordinated violence reduction tactics.

The mayor said that these strategic efforts have produced significant, tangible results including hundreds of arrests, hundreds of gun seizures, hundreds of dangerous pills and other drug seizures, dozens of stolen vehicle recoveries, and several lives being saved. The number of cameras integrated through the SAFE SMART CLE program has increased by nearly 400, and the number of cameras registered has gone up by more than 700 – more than a 1,000% increase since the program expanded in July. The Administration continues to urge residents, businesses, and community partners to sign up.

"Operation Clean Sweep" was led by the Cleveland Division of Police including the NICE Unit, Criminal Gang Intelligence and Gang Impact Units, District Violence Crime Reduction Teams, Traffic Unit, K-9 Unit, Chopper Unit, Real Time Crime Center, District Vice Unit, Community Service Units, Cartel Gang Narcotics & Laundering Task Force, Fugitive Unit, Safe Streets Gang Task Force, Narcotics Unit, and SWAT Unit. The Division collaborated with various partners that included the U.S. Marshals and their Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Those interested in becoming a police officer with the Cleveland Division of Police should contact the Department of Public Safety Recruitment Team at (216)-623-5233.