‘Operation Game Over’ sees results, but crime continues
Bethany Bruner
Police chiefs from across Franklin County gathered Thursday to discuss the onemonth progress of “Operation Game Over,” an enforcement effort targeting juvenile crime across central Ohio, particularly car thefts and purse snatchings.
Mike Crispen, Whitehall’s police chief and president of the Franklin County Police Chiefs Association, said in Whitehall the number of stolen cars in a four-week period was reduced from 23 to four. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the crime isn’t moving to other areas of central Ohio or beyond because of more aggressive tactics being used in Whitehall.
“I’m hoping that’s not necessarily what’s happened, but it could be,” Crispen said. “I hope it doesn’t become the whole state has to start working on juvenile crime.”
On Feb. 18, police chiefs from across central Ohio announced “Operation Game Over” to target juvenile crime, particularly purse snatchings and car thefts.
Jeff Spence, Gahanna’s police chief, said within the last week, a Kroger employee was carjacked outside the store at 300 South Hamilton Road — located just across Rocky Fork Boulevard from the city’s police station.
“What is very real for our residents is the fear of crime,” Spence said.
On Wednesday night, a 15-year-old was arrested by the sheriff ’s office after stealing a car in Gahanna, Spence said. That teen then admitted to more than 50 other similar instances, ranging from carjackings to stealing running cars.
Around the same time Wednesday night, Crispen said Whitehall police pursued a stolen vehicle, finding a 13-year-old and two 15-year-olds inside, along with a firearm near the driver’s side of the car.
“Our officers were asking, ‘Why, why do you have a gun?’” Crispen said. “It makes them look cool was the answer. Because it makes me look cool. It’s fun for some of them. They’re having a blast and living kind of risky.”
Crispen said police are worried that an officer is going to be put in a tragic situation.
“We have 13-year-olds driving vehicles problem one, driving them fast and recklessly, and in this case, they had a firearm in the vehicle, by the driver’s side,” Crispen said. “Every law enforcement officer could say the same thing — we’re worried about being in a position where worst case scenario happens.”
Franklin County Sheriff ’s Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert said the communication between law enforcement agencies has also helped more juveniles suspects be identified.
On Monday, Gilbert said deputies were investigating after a SUV was stolen from a convenience store on Morse Road. After shots were fired about 3:15 p.m. Monday at Polaris Fashion Place, the suspect was seen leaving the mall in a black SUV that was similar to the one reported stolen from Morse Road.
While there has not been a clear link identified as of Thursday, Gilbert said the possibility of a connection is being investigated.
Columbus police were also able to tie the stolen SUV to three robberies committed in the area of Karl and Morse roads within a 20-minute span shortly after the shooting at Polaris.
“They’re going to get someone killed,” Gilbert said of the reckless juveniles. “They’re not taking these cars to joyride. These are repeat offenders. It’s not rocket science.”
Crispen said the chiefs association, along with community leaders, will be calling for a large stakeholder meeting involving law enforcement, faith leaders, prosecutors, judges and others invested in the juvenile justice system and juvenile services to discuss how to continue to resolve the rise in juvenile crime.
“If we got together as a group and had a personal conversation as adults, very quickly we could bring this down,” he said.
Hours after the Feb. 18 press conference announcing “Operation Game Over,” the Franklin County Juvenile Court judges issued a statement calling statements by police about juvenile offenders being set loose to repeat offend “propaganda” and an effort to breed fear in the community.
“Our communities should be weary of recent demands calling for the deleterious and unnecessary detention of predominately African-American youths and others residing in lower income areas of the county,” according to the statement, which was primarily authored by Judge Kim Browne, administrative judge of the juvenile court, and signed off on by the other judges. “These propaganda efforts smack of the widely debunked ‘Super Predator’ myths of the 1990s. And every juvenile crime statistic available suggests that the juvenile justice reforms implemented since that time have been more effective than the ‘tough love’ approach suggested by lesslearned stakeholders.”
Crispen also said vocal support of law enforcement from the community and elected officials will help slow down crime. During Thursday’s press conference, Whitehall Mayor Kim Maggard said she supports the efforts police are making to try and stop the surge in juvenile crime.
“When communities and elected officials support law enforcement, it’s amazing how safe your cities can become,” Crispen said.