LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Lima Rotarians get an update on what's happening within the Lima Police Department.
Chief Curtis Hile spoke to the group about some recent initiatives, including bringing back community-oriented policing. The program aims to strengthen connections between officers and neighborhoods, starting with a pilot substation in Precinct 3 at St. Charles. The department looks to expand into Precincts 1 and 2 in the coming months.
Chief Curtis Hile spoke to the group about some recent initiatives, including bringing back community-oriented policing.
The department has also added a fourth shift, running from 7 PM To 3 AM, to improve response times to high-priority calls. Hile says that change is already making an impact.
He also highlighted new technology, including the use of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN, which helps investigators link shell casings to crimes across jurisdictions.
"Say we find a gun in Lima, if we send information about the ballistics of that gun, and they already have that in their system, we may have found the weapon that has been used in a crime in another city or even in our community, we can start to attach those things," Chief Hile said.
The department is also part of Ohio's drone first responder pilot program.
With about $200,000 in grant funding, Lima police are working to integrate drones into dispatch. This would allow them to respond to certain calls and assess scenes before officers arrive.
Chief Hile says the goal is to have that program fully operational by the end of June.
