Columbus Police Chief calls on public to help solve crimes

COLUMBUS (WCMH)– The Columbus Chief of Police called on the public to help the department find criminals who have avoided arrest.

Columbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan specifically cited Monday’s fatal shooting outside the Driving Park Branch of the Columbus Library, which resulted in one person dying and two others being injured.

Quinlan said there were more than 20 witnesses to the shooting, yet no one was able to provide information to help police. Quinlan added that it’s a citizen’s duty to speak up and help police with any information they may have.

Quinlan also discussed working with the courts to set up programs to help released citizens become members of society again and help them avoid falling back into a life of crime.

“Our frustration is many of these victims, they’re tragic and they’re victims, but many of them also have criminal arrests that we have for violence themselves and, not all of them, of course, but many of them do,” Quinlan said. “We’re concerned about that. If the courts are doing more follow-ups, making people accountable, having consequence, then we’re hoping to see some of this reduced based on a partnership between all criminal justice agencies.”