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Hamilton County commissioners press for investigations and alerts after KKK flyers in Lincoln Heights
Summary
Commissioners said Feb. 27 they will keep the flyer distribution in Lincoln Heights and Evendale under active review, urged prosecutors to collect eyewitness statements and sought emergency alerts and other short-term supports for the village.
Hamilton County President Dreehaus said the board will continue to track and follow up on the distribution of white-supremacist flyers in Lincoln Heights and nearby Evendale, and described steps the county and local officials have begun to take to investigate and protect residents.
The board’s discussion came after a reportback the commissioners described as a "14-day" review of the incident. The county said multiple agencies — including the prosecutor’s office, the sheriff’s office, emergency management, and local police — participated in meetings with village representatives and community groups to coordinate next steps.
Why it matters: commissioners said the flyers and related activity pose an ongoing public-safety and community-safety concern in a village the board called “unsafe right now,” and asked that county resources and partner agencies remain focused on follow-up investigations and immediate supports.
County actions reported at the meeting included: the prosecutor’s office agreeing to interview eyewitnesses and collect recorded statements; the county Emergency Management Agency (EMA) working to stand up an alert system for Lincoln Heights; outreach to ensure residents can file police reports and have statements taken; and a commitment to continued coordination among independently elected officials and responding agencies.
President Dreehaus, speaking after the meeting with local leaders and law-enforcement representatives, said, "We were told a lot about what had happened, but also the investigations that are being done, the independent investigations. So we will track that and make sure that once those investigations are concluded, we get a report back for the county commissioners." Dreehaus added that the prosecutor would seek eyewitness statements as part of the inquiry.
Commissioners repeatedly urged broader public, corporate and civic engagement. One commissioner asked that corporate community leaders and organizations make public statements condemning the activity and supporting affected neighborhoods. County officials also discussed practical, short-term items: ensuring the prosecutor’s office and sheriff coordinate witness interviews, asking EMA for a resident alert mechanism, and checking fire hydrants and other infrastructure in Lincoln Heights.
Officials also requested the county dog warden review video evidence to determine whether any animal-protection laws were violated after a dog was shown in video related to the incident; county staff said the vehicle and owner information was available and could be pursued by enforcement authorities.
What’s next: commissioners said they would monitor the prosecutor’s investigation and expected a follow-up briefing to the board after investigators complete interviews and compile their findings. Several commissioners emphasized that community groups and other local institutions should also publicly denounce hate activity and assist with reporting and safety supports.
The discussion was part of the board’s regular Feb. 27 meeting and followed a public briefing earlier in the day with local community representatives and law enforcement.
