The Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) is introducing a Safe Storage Program. This initiative allows firearm owners to temporarily store their firearms at a secure CPD location for up to six months. This out-of-home storage option can be particularly beneficial for individuals in crisis or at risk of suicide, those traveling and needing to secure their firearms, or when family and children are visiting.

 

Participating in the Safe Storage Program:

Participation is completely voluntary. Firearm owners wishing to participate must set up an appointment with the CPD property room by calling (513) 352-6480.  At the appointment, owners must bring their unloaded firearm, a printed and signed Firearm Storage Agreement, Proof of Firearm Ownership, and a photo ID.

View the Firearm Storage Agreement here.

The Property Room is located at 801 Linn Street. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 2 PM. Property Unit staff can be reached at (513) 352-6480 or by emailing CPDCPU@cincinnati-oh.gov.

Safely Transferring Your Firearm:

Firearms must be unloaded before transferring them to CPD. The owner acknowledges that upon the temporary transfer of possession of the firearm from the owner to CPD, CPD will:

a. discharge the firearm and retain the cartridge casing indefinitely; and

b. input the firearm into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS).

In the event CPD obtains any information that the firearm may be connected to a crime, CPD will follow all standard CPD protocol used when CPD comes into possession of a firearm that may be an instrument of crime, including comparing the cartridge casing from the firearm against the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) database.

 

While in Storage:

CPD will secure a firearm for three months initially. At the end of this period, CPD will contact the owner to determine if they wish to extend the storage for another three months. After six months, the owner must pick up the firearm from CPD’s Court Property Unit.

Retrieving Your Firearm:

The firearm must be picked up by the owner within 7 days of the storage period ending. The owner must make an appointment with the CPD Property Room during available pick-up hours to retrieve the firearm. Walk-ins are not allowed. The property room can be reached at (513) 352-6480 or by email at CPDCPU@cincinnati-oh.gov. Their hours are Monday to Friday, 6 AM to 2 PM.

Before returning the firearm, CPD will conduct a background check via the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to ensure the owner is not under disability. If the owner is under disability, they may designate someone else to pick up the firearm.

Have any questions? Call 311 (or 513-765-1212 from outside city limits) to learn more about the program.