Council takes state grant to fight illegal dumping; task force to double mobile cameras
September 23, 2026 | Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
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The committee approved Ordinance 910-2026 authorizing application for and acceptance of a $17,579 Ohio Attorney General "Shine a Light on Dumpsters" grant to purchase mobile trail cameras and one pole-mounted camera with live feed for illegal-dumping investigations.
Sergeant West of the Environmental Crimes Task Force explained the award will fund nine mobile units (seven trail cameras plus one pole camera with live feed) to double the department’s deployable mobile camera capacity and provide higher night-vision and evidentiary capture of plates and faces. "Right now, we have eight mobile cameras... we're going to have seven additional trail cameras and along with a pole camera that would have a live feed," Sergeant West said.
Council members pressed the department about how to request cameras for hot spots and urged visible communications when arrests are made. The police representative outlined that cameras are deployed to hot spots identified by 311, commander complaints and zone reports and provided direct contact to the sergeant for council requests.
The committee heard that a recent investigation led to grand-jury indictments of four individuals on 19 felony counts related to thousands of illegally dumped tires; police seized a vehicle as evidence. Sergeant West said forfeiture of vehicles used as a "criminal tool" is pursued where legal conditions permit, but liens and leases can complicate forfeiture and the department requested law-department clarification on process and authority.
Grants administrator Rachel Murphy supplied task-force numbers for 2021–present: 756 cases opened; 138 felony charges referred; 60 misdemeanor charges referred; eight citations issued; 206 total criminal charges/citations referred or issued. Murphy said final prosecution and disposition data must be requested from the city and county prosecutors.
Council asked the safety director and law department to review the ordinances and forfeiture rules and return recommendations for legislative changes and enforcement steps.
Sergeant West of the Environmental Crimes Task Force explained the award will fund nine mobile units (seven trail cameras plus one pole camera with live feed) to double the department’s deployable mobile camera capacity and provide higher night-vision and evidentiary capture of plates and faces. "Right now, we have eight mobile cameras... we're going to have seven additional trail cameras and along with a pole camera that would have a live feed," Sergeant West said.
Council members pressed the department about how to request cameras for hot spots and urged visible communications when arrests are made. The police representative outlined that cameras are deployed to hot spots identified by 311, commander complaints and zone reports and provided direct contact to the sergeant for council requests.
The committee heard that a recent investigation led to grand-jury indictments of four individuals on 19 felony counts related to thousands of illegally dumped tires; police seized a vehicle as evidence. Sergeant West said forfeiture of vehicles used as a "criminal tool" is pursued where legal conditions permit, but liens and leases can complicate forfeiture and the department requested law-department clarification on process and authority.
Grants administrator Rachel Murphy supplied task-force numbers for 2021–present: 756 cases opened; 138 felony charges referred; 60 misdemeanor charges referred; eight citations issued; 206 total criminal charges/citations referred or issued. Murphy said final prosecution and disposition data must be requested from the city and county prosecutors.
Council asked the safety director and law department to review the ordinances and forfeiture rules and return recommendations for legislative changes and enforcement steps.
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