OCPA Media Award

Partnership between WCPO TV-9 (Cincinnati) and OCPA District 4

OCPA District 4 has partnered with WCPO TV-9 in Cincinnati to provide residents with a weekly “Crime Prevention Tip” that provides viewers with important information on how to protect their families, property and communities from crime. WCPO airs these brief news segments on the evening news and re-broadcasts the tips on the morning and afternoon news the following day.

Reporter Shannon Keller was chosen by Executive Producer Jeff Brogan to lead up the weekly Crime Prevention Tip segment. Cincinnati Police Sergeant Eric Franz was designated as the project coordinator for District 4. Sergeant Franz routinely furnishes WCPO with monthly schedules of timely crime prevention tips and assigns a crime prevention specialist to participate in the story.

Crime Prevention Tips are aimed at current crime trends in the metropolitan area or are geared towards seasonal crime issues, such as home remodeling fraud. WCPO and District 4 have created a list of 325 crime prevention topics from which the station and Crime Prevention Specialists can draw story ideas. Additionally, reporters from WCPO have been provided a list of all certified Crime Prevention Specialists in the viewing area. Reporters and staff are encouraged to call on these specialists as a resource on crime prevention.

With the segment airing weekly, many residents are exposed to a plethora of ways that they can effectively reduce crime in their neighborhoods and protect their families. This valuable partnership between the media and crime prevention professionals helps to get the word out to a wide audience and protect our communities.