COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The biggest police rezoning and shake-up in decades was announced for the Columbus Division of Police Wednesday -- and not everyone is happy about it.
One of the changes will take place on the far east side of Columbus near Brice Road. It's currently in the 14th precinct, but it's being cut in half.
Part of the area will remain the 14th precinct, but another part will become the new 20th precinct.
The precinct numbers may not mean anything, but the police chief said the change will make the department more efficient, adding that officers will be able to get to their locations faster and there will be more officers on duty when the crimes occur.
Another area that will change is the far north side, which is now the 18th precinct. Part of the area will become the 1st precinct.
There has not been a significant change in patrol patterns in decades and Chief Walter Distelzweig said the change is past due.
Distelzweig said more officers will be put where they're needed, and that could mean more officers working weekends and nights.
The plan will be in place by May, but Distelzweig said it could be reviewed yearly.
He said the changes are necessary due to changes in population and traffic patterns.
But, not everyone is on board at the thought of the changes.
Fraternal Order of Police President Jim Gilbert said the city's proposed plan came without notice or reference to months of hard work on issues that have been raised.
In a statement, Gilbert said, "The FOP believes that the city's proposed plan is seriously flawed because it was not based upon any substantial public input and without serious input from rank and file police officers."
He added, "The proposed plan also ignores the relationships that patrol officers have developed over many years in the communities they serve.
"Unfortunately, the plan negatively impacts and diminishes the years of hard work that have been accomplished through community policing."
Distelzweig responded, saying there have been meetings held for months, without an agreement.
"They have their issues with members they have to answer to. I have my issues as a chief of the department for not only the members of the department, but to the public, the safety director, the mayor and people that are the shareholders in all of this," Distelzweig said.
Gilbert said he will talk to his membership and have more response at the end of the week.
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