New Central Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center Enhances Law Enforcement Efforts to Combat Gun Violence

Columbus, Ohio - In a significant development, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has announced the opening of a new Central Ohio Regional Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Columbus, Ohio. These centers are dedicated to addressing and preventing gun violence within local communities, serving as centralized hubs for the rapid collection, analysis, and sharing of information related to firearms used in violent crimes. This marks the second CGIC in Ohio and is part of a network of over 60 such centers operated by ATF across the United States.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco emphasized the effectiveness of Crime Gun Intelligence Centers in solving violent crimes, bringing repeat offenders to justice, and reducing gun violence nationwide. These centers facilitate collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, harnessing resources to enhance public safety.

ATF Director Steven Dettelbach praised the progress made in Ohio through the use of crime gun intelligence and expressed optimism about the partnership's future in combating violent crime.

The CGICs primarily rely on two critical systems: eTrace and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN, a vast network of ballistic images from crime scenes across the country, plays a pivotal role in solving shootings. It matches shell casings recovered from different crime scenes to identify links between multiple shootings. eTrace, on the other hand, traces firearms associated with criminal investigations back to their initial retail sale. These technologies help develop actionable intelligence leads, connecting shootings that may have occurred miles apart and identifying shooters more rapidly.

Ohio Governor Mark DeWine commended the Central Ohio CGIC as the next generation in intelligence-based policing. This initiative fosters collaboration among various agencies to target individuals involved in gun violence and hold them accountable for their actions.

Operated in partnership with the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, and Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Central Ohio CGIC has been operational since July. It offers its services free of charge to law enforcement agencies in the region. Since its launch, the CGIC has successfully linked multiple shootings in Columbus this summer to crimes committed several years ago, including incidents in other parts of the state.

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther of the City of Columbus emphasized the power of collaboration to strengthen accountability and secure justice, highlighting the collective effort to connect firearms used in crimes with the individuals responsible.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio underlined the impact of concentrated, collaborative efforts like the CGIC in reducing violence in cities, emphasizing the use of federal firearms laws to hold accountable those who use firearms to commit violent acts.

Additional agencies supporting the Central Ohio CGIC include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

ATF's commitment to opening more Crime Gun Intelligence Centers underscores its ongoing collaboration with state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners nationwide.