5 Critical Facts About Cincinnati Police District 2 (3295 Erie Ave) You Need To Know In 2025
Cincinnati Police District 2 (CPD District 2) is the epicenter of law enforcement for the city’s largest geographical patrol area, overseeing a diverse collection of 14 neighborhoods from the historic charm of Hyde Park to the bustling streets of Evanston. As of the current date, December 19, 2025, the District is operating under new leadership and spearheading innovative, data-driven crime reduction strategies, including a major expansion of its Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) program, directly impacting property crime trends across its vast jurisdiction.
The facility, officially located at 3295 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208, serves as the operational hub for the dedicated officers and Neighborhood Liaison Units who implement the city’s Community Problem-Oriented Policing (CPOP) model. The district’s success relies heavily on strong partnerships with local community councils, which are essential for tackling neighborhood-specific issues and sustaining the city-wide trend of reduced violent crime.
The New Face of District 2 Leadership: Captain Danita Pettis's Profile
The operational success and community engagement of Cincinnati Police District 2 are currently overseen by a high-ranking and dedicated leader, Captain Danita Pettis. Captain Pettis, a veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD), brings decades of experience to the role, having commanded one of the city's most geographically and demographically diverse districts.
Her appointment to the District 2 Commander role is a significant development, underscoring the department's focus on strong, community-oriented leadership.
Captain Danita Pettis: A Career of Firsts
- Current Role: Commander of Cincinnati Police District 2.
- Historical Significance: She is recognized as one of the highest-ranking African American females in the history of the Cincinnati Police Department.
- Years of Service: Captain Pettis celebrated her 25 Year Service Award, marking a quarter-century of dedication to law enforcement in Cincinnati.
- Community Advocacy: She served as the elected President of The Sentinel Police Association from 2022 to 2024, a role that highlights her commitment to internal advocacy and community relations.
- Jurisdiction: She is responsible for overseeing law enforcement operations across 14 distinct Cincinnati neighborhoods.
Her leadership style emphasizes Community Problem-Oriented Policing (CPOP), a core philosophy where officers work directly with residents to identify and resolve underlying causes of crime, rather than just reacting to incidents.
Mapping the Beat: Neighborhoods and the Largest Patrol Area
District 2’s headquarters at 3295 Erie Ave is strategically positioned to manage the largest patrol area within the entire City of Cincinnati. This vast geographical footprint presents unique challenges, requiring a flexible and comprehensive deployment strategy to serve a wide range of communities, from dense commercial corridors to quiet residential streets.
The district encompasses a significant portion of Cincinnati’s eastern and northern neighborhoods, each with its own distinct character, demographic profile, and specific public safety needs.
Key Neighborhoods Under District 2 Jurisdiction
The 14 neighborhoods patrolled by District 2 officers include:
- Hyde Park: Known for its affluent residential areas and bustling square.
- Evanston: A community with a strong focus on revitalization and historical preservation.
- East Walnut Hills: A diverse neighborhood featuring a mix of residential and commercial areas.
- O'Bryonville: Famous for its unique shops and local restaurants.
- Mount Lookout: A hill-top neighborhood with scenic views.
- Columbia-Tusculum: Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood, known for its painted ladies architecture.
- Madisonville: A large, active neighborhood that is a major focus for community-police partnerships.
- Oakley: A popular area for young professionals with a thriving business district.
The diversity of these neighborhoods necessitates a highly localized approach, which is why the District 2 Neighborhood Liaison Unit is the "linchpin" of the CPOP effort, ensuring a dedicated police presence and direct communication channel for residents.
Cutting-Edge Crime Prevention: The District 2 CPTED Initiative
One of the most current and unique initiatives being championed by District 2 is the expansion of its Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) project. This program demonstrates the district’s shift toward proactive, data-informed policing that goes beyond traditional patrol methods.
CPTED is an evidence-based approach that involves strategically modifying the physical environment to reduce the opportunity for crime and influence human behavior. This includes everything from improving lighting in high-risk areas to adjusting landscaping and signage to increase natural surveillance.
Phase Two: Targeting Property Crime in 2024/2025
The District 2 CPTED initiative (Project 2406PS0006) began as a targeted effort to combat a specific, persistent problem: Thefts from Autos (TFAs) in the Evanston and Walnut Hills areas.
- Initial Focus: Reducing the high incidence of auto thefts and smash-and-grabs, which are classified as Part 2 Crimes in police data.
- Expansion: Due to its success, the project was expanded to a district-wide initiative, applying CPTED principles across all 14 neighborhoods to address broader property crime opportunities.
- Collaborative Effort: The CPTED effort is a multi-disciplinary team effort involving the District Two Neighborhood Unit, the Violent Crimes Squad, the Crime Analyst, and city departments like Buildings and Law, alongside key community members.
This project is a perfect example of how the District 2 team uses detailed crime analysis (including data from the city’s STARS Report) to craft surgical, long-term solutions rather than relying on temporary fixes.
Community-First Policing: CPOP and Neighborhood Liaison Units
The foundation of law enforcement in District 2 is its dedication to community engagement, a commitment reflected in its robust Neighborhood Liaison Units and the overarching Community Problem-Oriented Policing (CPOP) strategy.
This model ensures that a dedicated team of officers is responsible for building long-term relationships with residents, community council leaders, and business owners, making them a fixture in the neighborhoods they serve.
Key Community Liaison Personnel and Entities
The Neighborhood Unit is critical for the flow of information and problem-solving, acting as the primary point of contact for non-emergency issues and community projects.
- Neighborhood Unit Sergeant: Sgt. Linda Sellers is a key leader in the liaison effort.
- Neighborhood Officers: Dedicated officers like PO Perry Locke and PO Christine (partial name available) are assigned to specific sectors to ensure consistent police-community interaction.
- Community Councils: District 2 maintains a strong and positive relationship with the various community councils and neighborhood associations across its 14 neighborhoods, using them as essential partners in crime prevention and resource deployment.
By focusing on partnerships, District 2 is able to leverage the $2 million in new public safety funding recently approved by City Council to engage community partners and implement new, collaborative initiatives to further reduce crime.
The District 2 Advantage: Data, Geography, and Leadership
Cincinnati Police District 2, under the leadership of Captain Danita Pettis, is a dynamic example of modern, community-focused policing. Operating from 3295 Erie Ave, the district manages a massive geographical area by dedicating resources to localized, data-driven strategies like the CPTED expansion.
The combination of experienced leadership, a commitment to the CPOP model, and active collaboration with 14 community councils ensures that District 2 remains at the forefront of public safety efforts, maintaining the positive city-wide trend of reduced violent crime and addressing neighborhood-specific challenges with surgical precision.
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