As Columbus homicides continue to move towards a new record year, the Division of Police hopes changes in the way homicide detective work will help solve more cases and reduce the stress on them.
On August 1, the division’s homicide squad began permanent use of a case response model, which was first tested in 2020. Instead of each murder shift dealing only with the cases that occur during those set hours, the entire unit – 32 detectives and four sergeants – work on the first shift (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) and switch cases.
To date, there have been 129 homicides in Columbus that year. A total of 67 of them resulted in a suspect being identified and charged with a 51.9% clear-up rate.
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In 2020, the deadliest year in the city’s history, detectives cleared 51.4%, or 90 of 175 total cases. The clarification rate was 52.4% in 2019, 57.3% in 2018 and 45.5% in 2017.
Clearance rates for 2017, 2018, and 2019 have increased with the inclusion of cases related to the former Mount Carmel doctor William Husel, accused of killing more than two dozen patients by prescribing too much pain medication to his ICU patientsto hasten death. The disposition used the clearance rates at the end of each year without counting the Husel cases that were added later.
According to data from the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan think tank based in Washington, DC, homicide clearance rates are around 61% nationwide
Reduce burnout in the police force through a healthier schedule and fair distribution of work
Columbus Police Cmdr. Robert Strausbaugh, who oversees the unit, said the goal of the now firm work schedule is to give the city homicide investigators more time to investigate and to spread the workload more evenly to prevent burnout.
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The homicide squad has seen a high turnover over the past two years, with detectives retiring or leaving the unit, Strausbaugh said. He pointed out that many of the other agencies and people murder detectives have to work with traditionally work between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“The coroner’s office, judges, prosecutors, the crime lab – they have the first shift,” he said. “If you are on the second or third shift, you have to change your working hours or come at different times.”
More: The Columbus Police Department adds the fourth shift to the overwhelmed homicide squad
Strausbaugh said the new program also offers detectives a more consistent and ultimately healthier schedule.
“Our body rhythms make it healthier than shift work. When they can rest well, they are more mentally clear and better on cases,” he said.
Take-home vehicles to speed up response during critical 48 hours
The Division of Police also wants to provide a vehicle for all homicide investigators to take home so they can react to scenes faster than having to come downtown to headquarters first to get a vehicle.
The department has assigned some cars to homicide squad from other units, but Chief Elaine Bryant is expected to ask city council approval in September to procure about seven additional vehicles for detectives.
“The vehicle becomes the investigator’s office,” Strausbaugh said. “Wherever you are, you can react instantly to a scene and immediately start collecting evidence and testimony in this proverbial 48-hour clock.”
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What Strausbaugh is referring to is that, statistically, the first 48 hours of a homicide investigation are crucial in gathering information that can help close a case. Having vehicle detectives able to react directly to a scene provides additional time to reset that clock.
‘Get Away With Murder’
Strausbaugh said Columbus had a resolution rate of around 65% in murder cases during the pilot program in 2020. However, Strausbaugh said this was not entirely satisfactory even when detectives come back to a resolution rate of 60% or more.
“Even on a national average, that’s four in ten murder suspects who get away with murder,” he said. “That’s four people who are walking on the street and have committed a murder.”
Unsolved murders haunt family members mourning the loss of a loved one.
Yehienes Jamaal Dixon, 37, was fatally shot and killed in a car near the intersection of 25th Street and Medina Avenue on April 18.
His younger sister, Dominique Washington, said her brother’s death and lack of answers were heartbreaking for her family.
“He was a role model for many,” said Washington. “He went to Central State University, played soccer, he did his hair. He had no children of his own, but he was an uncle.”
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Dixon also trained youth sports and coached a drill team in the Linden area.
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Four months later, Washington said the family are still trying to get a grip on his murder.
“It’s hard for us to get on with our daily lives as we should,” she said. “I have to look at it in the rearview mirror because I have it on a necklace. When I go to my mother’s house, I have to see an urn with it in it.”
Washington said an arrest on the case would be a “blessing”, but the family really just wants to know why Dixon was killed.
“Why did you have to take the life of an innocent man?” She said.
Anyone with information about Dixon’s murder or any other unsolved case is encouraged to call the Columbus Police Department Homicide at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. All reports to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could result in a cash award if a report leads to an arrest.
@bethany_bruner
