Youth organization leader working to curb violence in Toledo [Video]

TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle in a press conference on Tuesday shared crime statistics for the first half of 2024.

Four of the six major crime categories that the department tracks, compared to the same period in 2023, have improved, while two — homicides and people shot — increased by 26.7% and 5.8%, respectively.

But these numbers are the general crime reports.

How does the impact to local youth factor into the bigger picture?

“Getting them off the street could interrupt that cycle of violence,” Troendle said. “If they are not on the street, then it’s impossible for them to commit or become a victim of a crime.”

Kapszukiewicz at the press conference said the city has a goal to reduce youth-related crime in Toledo.

That can be a tricky …