Some county officials want Cleveland to help pay for sheriff’s downtown patrol
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Some Cuyahoga County officials say they believe the City of Cleveland should help pay for the sheriff’s downtown safety patrol.
“We are providing services to a city that doesn’t pay,” said county councilmember Michael Gallagher. “We wouldn’t do that with any other city.”
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department started the downtown patrol as a temporary program in August, after city officials asked for help due to the violence in downtown.
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The program became permanent in January.
Sheriff department officials say the downtown patrol is making a huge difference.
“From the middle of August to the end of December, 144 firearms seized,” said Cuyahoga County Sheriff Harold Pretel. “This year, so far, they seized 64 firearms, year to date.”
But some county councilmembers remain concerned that the city is not helping pay for the patrol.
“I think, sheriff, it would go a long way with this body if the City of Cleveland was participating in the cost of the downtown unit,” said county councilmember Sunny Simon said.
The I-Team asked Mayor Justin Bibb Tuesday if the city would help pay for the program. The mayor would not give us a specific answer. We asked twice. On Wednesday, we asked again and received this statement:
“We are continuing to have conversations with the county executive and his team about coordination of services,” the statement says. “We have no further information to share at this time.”
Some county leaders are running out of patience.
“They are a horrible partner, horrible. There is nothing nice to say about it,” Gallagher said. “I drive through Cleveland, I check my back. It’s unbelievable.”
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