Safety in the Short North Arts District

The Short North Arts District is a vibrant, creative, inclusive community and leading arts destination. Safety in the Short North Arts District is a state where everyone is free of harm, thrives, and has their well-being protected and their diversity celebrated.

There are a number of safety programs and services available in the community.

THE SHORT NORTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Short North Ambassadors are a trained team provided by the Short North Alliance to support community members. Ambassadors are trained in de-escalation and are available to address any matter that does not involve an immediate threat to human life safety. They are regularly available to provide safety escorts to patrons and employees of the District to destinations within several blocks of High Street as requested on demand. Hours of operation are 7:00am to 9:00pm Sundays through Wednesdays, and 7:00am to 11:00pm Thursdays through Saturdays. For help from the Short North Ambassadors or to request a Safety Escort, call or text (614) 636.5100. Response times may vary based on demand. 

SHORT NORTH CRIME INTERDICTION PROGRAM

In partnership with the Columbus Police Department, the Short North Alliance, through the support of business, property owners and the City of Columbus, leads the Short North Crime Interdiction Program. The program provides a dedicated unit of police officers to engage in patrols of our community streets to help prevent violent crime and participate in enforcement of safety issues. A report outlining the impact of the pilot program in 2021 is available here and in 2022 is available here.

The program continues in 2023 and is focused on evening and late night hours during the majority of each weekend and at any other key times based on crime trends.

CALLING 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES

Community members are advised to call 911 Emergency Services when there is a risk to human life safety due to severe mental or bodily injury and a situation cannot be resolved with the community.

Examples of incidents that may require the need for 911 Emergency Services response may be an act of threat or violence, such as kidnapping; aggravated or sexual assault; other felonious acts; weather emergency; act of terrorism; or other disaster.

Consult the chart below to help determine if a call to police is the needed first safety intervention.

COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES TO CALLING 911 EMERGENCY SERVICES

Not every incident involving safety in the Short North Arts District may merit a police-based intervention, and many community alternatives exist:

For instances involving an individual in crisis or in need of other social services:

For instances involving harassment, exclusion, or discrimination: 

SHORT NORTH VIOLENCE & INJURY PREVENTION WORK GROUP

The Short North Alliance and City of Columbus have formed a Violence & Injury Prevention Work Group for the Short North community. The Work Group is tasked with identifying additional solutions to support violence and injury prevention in the Short North Arts District and surrounding residential communities.

2024 TRAINING OPPORTUNITES FOR EMPLOYEES, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND RESIDENTS

The Short North Alliance is partnering with The YWCA Columbus and Safety Officer, Joe Curmode, to provide two free training in 2024 – Fostering Belonging in Business and De-escalation in Customer Service.

These opportunities are offered to all Short North Arts District, Fifth Avenue, Fourth Street Special Improvement District, or Friends of the Short North Alliance business employees, owners, and community residents. To compensate employees in the District(s) for their time, every employee participant will receive a Visa Gift Card after each session, with the potential of earning up to $75 in gift cards.

Training Topics:

De-escalation in Customer Service: This training will focus on teaching people valuable skills in handling tense situations, especially in customer service. It aims to help businesses develop policies and procedures to ensure the safety of their teams. ($25 Visa Gift Card per District Employee.)

Fostering Belonging in Business: In this session, you’ll delve into the concept of intersectionality, and how different aspects of a person’s identity, like race, gender, and economic status, intersect to shape their experiences. Through discussions and activities, you’ll learn how to make your workplace more inclusive by incorporating intersectionality into your organization’s language and practices. ($50 Visa Gift Card per District Employee.)

For questions please contact, info@shortnorthorg or 614.299.8050. 

KEEPING SAFE

There are a number of important things you can do to keep yourself and our community safe:

• Travel together; there is safety in numbers
• Be vigilant of your surroundings and stay alert at all times
• Make a plan in advance of traveling to various destinations within or when leaving the District
• Do not leave valuables out in plain sight
• Walk in well lit areas and avoid dark locations
• Don’t linger after businesses close for the night
• When using rideshare services, be vigilant, be aware, and follow their safety recommendations, including double checking the license plates of vehicles you enter
• Be respectful of the neighborhood and surrounding communities; avoid excessive noise, littering, or damaging property on High Street or on adjacent residential streets

GIVE US FEEDBACK

Email info@shortnorth.org to share thoughts on safety resources, solutions, or other community alternatives that could help keep the Short North Arts District a safe space for all.

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