COLUMBUS, OH – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) today announced the opening of the Central Ohio Regional Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in partnership with state and local agencies. This center is designed to focus solely on investigating and curbing gun violence in communities, making it the second of its kind in Ohio and one of over 60 nationwide.
The CGIC integrates firearm examiners, intelligence analysts, and investigators under a single roof. They employ technology such as eTrace and the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to trace firearms and ballistic evidence. This enables them to link multiple shootings, whether proximate or distant, and rapidly identify perpetrators.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco praised the center’s capability, stating that CGICs have proven effective in solving violent crimes and reducing gun violence across the country. Ohio Governor Mark DeWine affirmed that the CGIC represented “the next generation in intelligence-based policing,” making gun violence significantly more difficult to perpetrate without detection.
The center began its operations in July and is housed within the Ohio Department of Public Safety. It operates through a collaboration between ATF, the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Since its launch, the center has already connected multiple recent shootings in Columbus to older crimes, even those that occurred in different parts of the state.
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther of Columbus and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker both emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts like the CGIC in reducing violence and enhancing accountability.
Additional agencies supporting the Central Ohio CGIC include the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. The ATF plans to continue partnering with various state and local agencies to open more CGICs nationwide.