TOLEDO, Ohio —
The U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. Toledo City Council said it was a public health issue back in 2022.
There have been 15 gun violence deaths in Toledo from Jan. 1 to June 30 this year. There were 13 during the same period last year.
The reason behind the shootings isn't always known though, according to the Toledo Police Department.
"It could be a mental health factor, but a lot of times you may not figure that until afterward and we're dealing with it later on," Toledo Police public information officer Prince Flores said.
The goal is to address situations before they escalate.
"If you know someone struggling with mental health and you know that there's a gun or other weapons involved, it's up to all of us to take that step to get them the help that they need so they don't resort to violence and potentially use violence in the process," Flores said.
The U.S. Surgeon General recommended secure gun storage universal background checks and banning assault weapons for civilians in the published report.
Locally, Toledo police are working to promote gun safety. The department offers gun locks through the community service unit. Flores said it's important to keep guns in a secure space away from children or anyone who may not use them properly.
Education is one way TPD is reaching younger individuals. The City Safety program starts teaching children in kindergarten what to do if they see a gun and who to report it to.
Flores said conflict resolution is another way the department is working to reduce incidents.
"So they understand the issues that they have may not be as big as they believe they are," Flores said. "Is there another way to go about it than resorting to violence itself?"
The Toledo Lucas County Health Board is scheduled to discuss gun violence at its next meeting on July 25.