By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green officials and bar owners are working together to make the downtown a safe place on weekend nights.
The recent shootings in downtown Bowling Green have given the downtown a black eye. The most recent occurred on Saturday when a man was shot in the leg multiple times. That incident remains under investigation.
So Mayor Mike Aspacher and Police Chief Tony Hetrick met with downtown bar owners to discuss solutions.
“Chief Hetrick and I are deeply concerned with recent incidents within our downtown,” Aspacher said. That concern is shared by bar owners, he said.
“The resounding sentiment from the city and bar owners is that this behavior will not be tolerated in the City of Bowling Green and we are all prepared to do all that is necessary to ensure it stops,” Aspacher stated.
The BG Police Division has and will continue to provide extra officers on Friday and Saturday nights for an increased presence and to attend to criminal and traffic violations specifically in the downtown area.
Additionally, the BG Police Division has been in contact with local law enforcement partners including BGSU Police, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ohio Highway Patrol. Each entity has committed to assisting with these efforts and will provide extra patrols in and around the city during the weekends.
The city has multiple cameras in the downtown area, but none currently cover the parking lot where the shootings have occurred.
“We’re actually looking into that,” said Joe Fawcett, the city’s public service director.
In the downtown area, property owners adjacent to the locations where the shootings occurred on July 31 and Oct. 2, are taking steps to prohibit loitering, large gatherings and illegal parking.
Specifically, the lot between Howard’s and Liquid, in the 200 block of North Main Street, will be closed and posted as no trespassing, loitering or illegal parking. Enforcement of this no trespassing order will be conducted throughout the weekend by the Bowling Green Police Division. People found in the lot will be cited and illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
“It is our sincere hope that these steps will help stop the violence that has been occurring in our downtown area and make it a peaceful and enjoyable location for citizens once again,” Aspacher said. “We remain committed to adjusting these action steps if necessary.”
Fawcett added that the mayor was pleased with the teamwork between the city and downtown business owners.
“He’s extremely appreciative of the businesses coming forward and wanting to help solve a problem,” Fawcett said.
The use of officers from neighboring law enforcement departments are covered under mutual aid agreements, so there is no cost to the city. However, the additional BGPD officers in the downtown area on the weekends is costing the city in overtime costs, Fawcett said.
BGPD Major Justin White declined to say how many additional Bowling Green officers are patrolling in the downtown on weekend nights, but did say it’s a “significant” number.
White understands that the recent shootings likely make some people uncomfortable being downtown at night. But he pointed out that such incidents are rare.
“These are isolated incidents,” with specific targets, he said. The first shooting took place during a robbery, and the most recent during an altercation between people who knew each other.
“Overall, I’d say our downtown is safe,” White said. “We’re taking this very seriously and addressing it. We’re hoping that the steps we are taking will help.”
