Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Partners Announce the Expansion of V-GRIP to Toledo

V-GRIP, a joint federal, state, and local program aimed at reducing violence and getting firearms off the streets, is underway in Toledo, law enforcement officials announced today.

“V-GRIP is a prime example of what happens when agencies and departments combine their resources and work together,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “We will build off the success we have had in other parts of the state and work to make Toledo’s streets safer.”

V-GRIP stands for Violence Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program. It includes participation from: the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Toledo Police Department; the U.S. Marshal Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General; the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office; the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

“The V-GRIP initiative shares the goals of the Ohio Attorney General’s office to protect Ohio families from violent crime and make encounters safer for law enforcement officers,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “I commend and encourage the participation of Ohio law enforcement in V-GRIP.”

“The days are heating up for criminals in Toledo this summer, but soon they will feel the cold steel bars of justice. ATF is joining forces with Toledo-area law enforcement in the V-GRIP initiative to take back the neighborhoods and stop gun violence,” said Robert J. Browning, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Columbus Field Division.

“The FBI and its partners are committed to combating gang and violent activity in Toledo,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge, Cleveland Office. “This multi-agency initiative will help take dangerous offenders off our streets with the goal of making our neighborhoods safer.”

V-GRIP was first implemented in Youngstown in 2003. It was re-instituted in Youngstown, Warren and the entire Mahoning Valley last summer in response to concerns about a summer crime spike. That effort resulted in 21 federal indictments, scores more state indictments and 154 firearms seized.

Participating agencies are working together to put additional officers on the streets of Toledo to supplement regular patrols. They share intelligence to target specific neighborhood crime hot spots.

The goal is to identify repeat violent offenders, with an emphasis on reducing gun violence. Those arrested and found to be in possession of illegal firearms, drugs or other contraband could then be prosecuted in either federal or state court.