Hamilton Co. Sheriff Announces Formation Of Environmental Crime Unit

The ECU Unit will be available to assist all agencies within Hamilton County with environmental crime investigations.

(Hamilton County, Oh.) - Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil and Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District are pleased to announce their partnership to investigate environmental crimes throughout Hamilton County.

The Sheriff’s Office and the District have entered into a three-year agreement for an Environmental Crimes Investigator. The new partnership will provide one deputy who is specifically trained on environmental crimes and enforcement.

The Environmental Crimes Unit (ECU) deputy will be responsible for investigations, arrest or citation, and prosecution of persons and/or business entities suspected of violating the environmental laws of the State of Ohio within Hamilton County.

The initial focus of this program is to combat tire dumping. Illegally open dumping scrap tires creates a nuisance and can accumulate water and create a breeding ground for mosquitoes that transmit a variety of diseases to people and animals. Cleaning up illegally dumped tires is also a strain on community budgets.

The ECU Unit will be available to assist all agencies within Hamilton County with environmental crime investigations. The ECU will work closely with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, Hamilton County Public Health, Cincinnati Health Department, Cincinnati Department of Public Services, Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, and Ohio EPA.

Citizens can submit complaints of tire dumping at www.ReportDumping.org or at 946-7788.