1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: Considering the eleven year old got gunned down in a 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: playground and since he's West End just before seven pm 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: should never have happened. There is no justification for this. 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: And to join the program. Who has got some comments 5 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: of his own, the Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes. Scott, 6 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: I saw your post the other day and I'm glad 7 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: to have you on the program this morning. Welcome sir, 8 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:21,639 Speaker 1: and happy New year to you. 9 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 2: Glad to be back, Brian, Happy New Year to you 10 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:25,280 Speaker 2: too well. 11 00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: Christopher obviously very passionate about his criticism of the administration 12 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: in downtown Cincinnati, and I know the residents of the 13 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 1: West End had been promised some cameras and some lighting 14 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: in this area for a couple of years. Only last 15 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: summer did they get one hundred and fifty thousand dollars 16 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,760 Speaker 1: financial allocation to do that. And yet, of course here 17 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: we are standing today they have never been put in. 18 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: But that's not the biggest problem. The biggest problem is, 19 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: as from I understand it, officers are stretched way too thin. 20 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, Brian. This has happened at large cities all 21 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: across the country. I've had a couple of folks reach 22 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 2: out to me inside the city of Cincinnati as an example, 23 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 2: and you know they're they're telling me that you've got 24 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 2: three police officers showing up for a roll call. Uh. 25 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 2: And some of the busiest districts in Cincinnati, you've got 26 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: you've got robberies that are occurring, and they don't have 27 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: enough police officers to establish perimeters. You try to catch 28 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: these bad actors after they commit these crimes, and you know, uh, 29 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: preventative excuse me, we can we can prevent crimes by 30 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: being visible, right, you know, I was using analogy, Using analogy, 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: what happens when you're driving up the highway and you 32 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 2: see a police car sitting in the turnaround in the 33 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 2: middle of the highway. You slow down? 34 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 1: Its determin right, Yes, I know that. 35 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: I mean, you know, think about it. Right. As soon 36 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 2: as you do, you slam on the brakes and everybody 37 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 2: slows down, and then you know that, and then they 38 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,600 Speaker 2: resume after they passed the police car. Imagine if we 39 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: have police officers visible and in these locations. This eleve 40 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: year old kid is not dead, right, it's just it's 41 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: just something not going to happen. But when you've got 42 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: three officers shown up to roll call, uh, and they're 43 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 2: going call to call to call, and then when it 44 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 2: do get calls, they don't have enough people to handle 45 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: the calls. That is a recipe for disaster and unfortunately 46 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 2: then the end up in situations like this. So this 47 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:09,800 Speaker 2: has happened all across this country. 48 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: Well, Chief Hughes, we have obviously known about the lack 49 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: of police officers or the limited number. Our contingent is 50 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 1: still way below where it's supposed to be, and maybe 51 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: where it's supposed to be isn't even quite enough. The solution, 52 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: obviously is to hire more police officers, lateral hires, of course, 53 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 1: new police classes. That does take time. But if the 54 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: administration had the will, if you had a pro policing administration, 55 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: one that understands exactly what you're talking about, more police 56 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: equals less crime, how quickly could we replace the contingent 57 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: of police officers? I mean, isn't that a logistical hurdle? 58 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: It's almost insurmountable these days with all the criticism of 59 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: law enforcement generally, Yeah. 60 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 2: You know it sure is, and that is a big 61 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 2: driving factor. You've gotten morales, it's just absolutely crushed and a 62 00:02:57,440 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 2: lot of these organizations and these these men and women 63 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: out up there in these uniforms are doing what a 64 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: buddy of mine calls the hardest job in America, and 65 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: they are doing it with pride and honor, and they well, 66 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: they are willing to risk their lives for people that 67 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: they've never met. But when when you're when you have 68 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 2: locality locations that are demonizing law enforcement, they're not supporting, 69 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 2: they're not given the resources that they need. It makes 70 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: a job be more challenging. And you know, I'm up 71 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 2: here in Warren County, we don't have those recruitment issues 72 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:32,080 Speaker 2: because we are in a pro police uh location. Case 73 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 2: in point, there was a I'm sure you saw in 74 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 2: the news this weekend. They had a high speed chase 75 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: that came through Warren County. Multiple jurisdictions involved, and jurisdictions 76 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 2: up here took proactive approaches in that pursuit and take 77 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 2: these two individuals who are not from Warren County as 78 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: minunderstanding into custody and they will be held accountable up 79 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: here in Warren County. And it's just it's just amazing 80 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: to me the difference when you cross county lines and 81 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 2: in some places state law is just the difference in 82 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: what's tolerant and what's not and where you have recruitment 83 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: issues and where you don't have recruitment issues. 84 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,839 Speaker 1: Well, I think part of the recruitment issue problem could 85 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: be solved if the administration was more outspoken in favor 86 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: of police. The silence from the city is just deafening 87 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: when it comes to law enforcement and support of them. 88 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: And you know, having Iris Rolie say what you want 89 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,120 Speaker 1: about Iris Rollie, but she is not a friend of 90 00:04:25,160 --> 00:04:28,360 Speaker 1: the police department. She's been paying six hundred plus thousand 91 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,840 Speaker 1: dollars years under contract. Is a you know, sort of 92 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: a subcontractor employee of the city. You're not an employee 93 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: of the city, but a subcontractor, so she's free of 94 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: all these nepotism rules and everything. But because of her 95 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: very prominent position and her close connection with f tab 96 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: Provo and the Vice mayor, that sends a message just 97 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,600 Speaker 1: in and of itself that's the city is not pro police, 98 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: and that to me would be a big step in 99 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: the right direction. Maybe get rid of her your thoughts. 100 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, so I'm not familiar with her in particular down 101 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: there in the city, but I can tell you based 102 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: on what I've read and what i'm hearing, there's no 103 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: doubt that that's impact the morale, it's impacting the mental 104 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:08,880 Speaker 2: women who are out there doing this job. It's certainly 105 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: going to cause hesitation. We have to be able to 106 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: proactively go after these these low level offenses. We know 107 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 2: there's a there's a ferry called broken windows policing to 108 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: target low up You know, if you target these low 109 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: level offenders, that's going to prevent these bigger cases from occurring. 110 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: But again, when you don't have enough officers out there 111 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:35,040 Speaker 2: to make the traffic stops, to stop and have conversations 112 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 2: with people in the corners because they're going from call 113 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 2: to call a call again, it's just this recipe for disaster. 114 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 2: In like unfortunately we had a couple of days ago, 115 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: you have eleven year olds who are now victims because 116 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: the police officer's hands are tied, often by not their 117 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: own doing. 118 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: One can only pray that the murder of that eleven 119 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 1: year old is a straw that finally breaks the camel's 120 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: back of this anti police rhetoric that comes out of 121 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: our elected officials. Can only pray to God that we 122 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 1: get more police and you know, maybe the answer is 123 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: offering them more money. Scott, that's one dangling carrot. That's 124 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: certainly in the arsenal of options. 125 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 2: Isn't it. You know, those guys and galas down there, 126 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 2: they certainly are not ever going to be paid enough. 127 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: That is certainly going to help incentivize this. But I 128 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: think more important than that is they have to have 129 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 2: the support politically, knowing that if they make a decision, 130 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 2: it's going to be supported all it's right, not wrong, 131 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,039 Speaker 2: good not bad. People are going to protect them. They're 132 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 2: going to have their back. They've got to be outspoken. 133 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 2: They got to be in front of us supporting these 134 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 2: men and women when they're involved in these situations. That's 135 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: how you That's, in my opinion, that's how you improve it. 136 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: Amen. And I tell you what I know, the members 137 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: of the Cincinna Police Department truly appreciate your support. Hamilton 138 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: Township Police Chief Scott Hughes. Keep up the words of support, sir, 139 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: and you're always welcome here in the morning show to 140 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 1: comment on matters law enforcement. Happy new year to you 141 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: and appreciate your support of law enforcement. Of running a 142 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: really tight ship there, my friend. Apparently a lot better 143 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: environment for law enforcement than it is in the city. 144 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 2: Well, I appreciate it, Brian again, happy to your thoughts 145 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 2: and prayers of the family. 146 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: Eleven year old exactly, Thank you Scott, he's been a pleasure. 147 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: Seven fifty seven. Right now brother Andre Ewing, brother Dre 148 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: in studio he'll be talking about crime.