Since 2013, the Columbus Police Department Reported 1.9 Million Case, But Did Include 119,000 criminal offenses — 5.3% of cases (multiple offenses are sometimes involved in one case).

Cleveland isn’t the only city that has been accused of under reporting crime rates. Chicago and Philadelphia has faced similar claims in the past.

Since 2013, the department submitted 1.9 million case reports to OIBRS. About 119,000 criminal offenses weren’t submitted, totaling 5.3% of cases (multiple offenses are sometimes involved in one case). The roughly 119,000 total uncounted offenses include:

— 18 murders

— 2,384 rapes

— 2,137 aggravated assaults

— 7,470 burglaries

— 19,254 larcenies and thefts

— 5,987 motor vehicle thefts

Reporting to OIBRS is voluntary, so Columbus police won’t face any consequences from the state for failing to report the crimes.

Bailey Gallion, “Columbus has been misreporting some crime stats since 2013. Here’s how it happened,” The Columbus Dispatch, December 13, 2024.