The Youngstown Police Department (YPD) and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP) hosted a press conference Tuesday morning to announce the launch of their annual Impact Initiative saturation patrols campaign.

YPD is working with state and federal agencies, including the FBI and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, to investigate crimes, analyze evidence, and watch out for criminal activity within the city.

Officials emphasize that these patrols are not solely focusing on cracking down on traffic violations but also addressing other crimes that plague the city, particularly violence.

Aerial surveillance will play a crucial role in this initiative. OSP will deploy their helicopter to track fleeing suspects, monitor high-crime areas, and provide valuable intelligence to law enforcement on the ground.

Tito Brown, Youngstown mayor, expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating that combining resources and tools from different agencies will enhance their ability to solve cases that have gone cold.

In 2023 saturation patrols conducted 500 traffic stops, during that time 47 criminal arrests were made, 35 drug cases were initiated and troopers recovered five stolen vehicles. According to OSP, 17 people received referrals to addiction treatment services. 

The saturation patrols will run through the fall.