Councilman Polensek Calls on US Marshals to Help Fight Violent Crime

Jul 27, 2023

Mr. Pete Elliott 

United States Marshal

Northern District of Ohio

801 West Superior Avenue, Suite 12-100

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Dear US Marshal Elliot:

Pursuant to our recent telephone conversation, as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee of the Cleveland City Council, I am officially requesting the help of the US Marshal Service to assist the Cleveland Police Department in its efforts to combat the dramatic increase we have been experiencing in violent crime and civil disobedience in our neighborhoods across the city. 

In all my 43 years in public office, I have never experienced the level of violent gun-related crime which we are experiencing in the City of Cleveland today. No neighborhood is immune and we are dealing with, what many people are referring to as a “Pandemic crime wave,” in our city. 

When Black Ministers and Pastors openly pronounce that their flocks are afraid of coming to church on Sunday or Bible Study on Wednesday nights, for fear of becoming a victim, speaks volumes of where we are at in our greater community. To hear elderly women crying on the phone that they are afraid to sit on their porches or go to a corner store and/or a gas station, is outrageous. 

The sheer number of cars being stolen and carjacked are at epidemic levels. Due to staffing levels within CPD, at this point are unable to adequately protect our citizens and businesses. 

Several years ago, your office, in partnership with the US Attorney’s office, the FBI, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, the ATF, the Ohio Highway Patrol, the Cleveland Police (CPD), my office and others initiated Operation:CLE where you targeted the “worst of the worst” violent offenders in our neighborhoods and outstanding felony warrants for violent criminals.  As you are aware, the program was very successful. 

Therefore, on behalf of my colleagues in Cleveland City Council and Council President Blaine Griffin, I am officially requesting that a new undertaking be implemented to address the insanity we are seeing in the streets of Cleveland and beyond. 

At this point, if direct action is not taken, I do not even want to think of the carnage and deaths that could occur by the end of Summer into early Fall. As I have said publicly, I refuse to live like this and I refuse to let me citizens live like this, as well. For, at the end of the day, it isn’t really living it is only existing, and at that, living in fear. 

I am sending a copy of this letters to Senators Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance; US Congresswomen Marcie Kaptur and Shontel Brown. Federal action is needed now to assist our overwhelmed Division of Police. 

We thank you for your ongoing service to our community.  I look forward to hearing from as to how the US Marshal Service can assist us in the City of Cleveland. As always, I may be reached at the office at (216) 664-4236 or via email at mpolensek@clevelandcitycouncil.org. 

                                                                                    Sincerely yours, 

                                                           Michael D. Polensek

         Michael D. Polensek 

          Councilman, Ward 8

CC:      The Honorable Sherrod Brown, US Senator

The Honorable, J.D. Vance, US Senator

The Honorable Marcie Kaptur, US Congresswoman 

The Honorable Shontel Brown, US Congresswoman

The Honorable Blaine Griffin, President, Cleveland City Council 

The Honorable Michael O’Malley, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor