YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - A renewed, multiagency push to curb violent crime will bring increased patrols, targeted enforcement and a visible law enforcement presence across the city in the coming months, officials said Wednesday.
City leaders and law enforcement agencies formally launched the 2026 Impact Initiative during a news conference at City Hall, outlining a coordinated strategy that relies on shared intelligence and data-driven policing.
Lt. Joel Smith of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the effort will concentrate resources where they are needed most.
"This operation will be guided by data, concentrating our enforcement efforts in the areas that consistently generate the highest number of violent crimes," Smith said. "By deploying our resources strategically, we can respond more effectively and disrupt this criminal activity."
The initiative includes the Youngstown Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio Investigative Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service. Officials said the agencies will coordinate enforcement, share intelligence and deploy personnel throughout the city, particularly during the summer months.
Mayor Derrick McDowell said the effort is intended to build on ongoing violence-reduction strategies while expanding community involvement.
"This is not a law enforcement-only lever that we're pulling," McDowell said. "We're pulling out every stop possible to ensure that our residents are safe and feel safe in this community."
McDowell urged residents to take a more active role by participating in neighborhood groups and sharing information with authorities.
Law enforcement officials said residents should expect an increased police presence, including more frequent traffic stops tied to crime interdiction efforts.
Lt. Gerard Slattery of the Youngstown Police Department said residents will see a more visible and proactive presence from officers as the initiative ramps up.
"You're going to see us out there. We're going to be stopping a lot of cars," Slattery said.
"We are not out there to write the ticky-tack tickets. We're out there looking for the violent crime happening and those individuals causing that."
Smith pointed to results from last year's initiative as evidence of the program's impact. The 2025 effort resulted in 49 arrests, including 39 felony arrests, along with 28 drug cases, the recovery of three stolen vehicles and the seizure of 15 firearms.
Federal partners said they will support the initiative through intelligence sharing, prosecution of federal offenses and fugitive apprehension, while the Adult Parole Authority will provide supervision resources and additional intelligence.
Officials said the initiative will combine enforcement with prevention efforts aimed at reducing long-term violence, particularly among young people, as agencies work alongside community organizations and residents.
The program is expected to continue through the summer, with officials emphasizing that sustained collaboration will be key to improving public safety across Youngstown.
"This is something that we cannot leave to simply one organization, one initiative," McDowell said."This takes all of us."