By William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Some relatives of victims of unsolved homicides in Cincinnati were assured Tuesday that a proposed witness protection program designed to get fearful witnesses to testify will become a reality.

"I will do whatever it takes to get the money for the witness protection program," Hamilton County Commissioner Phil Heimlich told a group of about 25 parents and siblings of victims of unsolved homicides. "Police are putting together a proposal. (Hamilton County Prosecutor) Mike Allen said, 'Let's get it done.' "

Heimlich said the city has 90 unsolved homicides over the last four years. "And in many cases, police say, people have evidence and are afraid to come forward."

Heimlich explained that the proposed witness protection program would involve putting a fearful witness up in a hotel, or moving someone from the east side to the west side of the city.

Meanwhile, the Homicide Unit commander, Lt. Roger Wolf, told the group - most of whom are members of Who Killed Our Kids organization - that despite the dramatic increase in homicides in recent years, "which we weren't equipped to deal with," there will be a concerted effort to better communicate with relatives of homicide victims on the progress of investigations.

"There is absolutely nothing I could say that would be valid for not getting back to family members," Wolf told those at the Who Killed Our Kids meeting at the Ronald McDonald House in Avondale.

"Nobody calls us," said Yvette Willams, 31, of College Hill, echoing similar complaints from others who said they were frustrated in trying to get information from investigators on the status of homicide investigations.

Williams' brother, Xavier Williams, was shot and killed outside his College Hill apartment on May 17, 2001. No arrests have been made.

Wolf said his homicide officers are dedicated and work long hours dealing with the recent surge in homicides and the reluctance of witnesses to come forward.

"Whatever you need to do, just do it," Robert "Dean" Appleton, whose 18-year-old son, JeShawn Johnson, was fatally shot April 6 in Westwood, told Wolf.

"I believe (police) need to step it up."

Wolf said that within the past month, Police Chief Tom Streicher has assigned four additional officers to the homicide unit to concentrate on "cold cases."

These homicide cases are at least a year old with no new leads, or ones that the original investigating officer was too busy to pursue.

E-mail bweathers@enquirer.com