Columbia Police say the increased law enforcement presence that you’ve seen downtown on weekends is making a big difference.
CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter delivered an update at Friday’s joint meeting between the city and multiple entities, saying CPD officers appreciate the weekend assistance downtown from Boone County Sheriff’s deputies, MUPD and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. City manager De’Carlon Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that it’s made a difference:
“So the idea is that we know that if you can deal with some of the low-level issues, that keeps it from having those big issues from occurring. And so I think it has made a difference and it’s something that we’ll continue working on,” Mr. Seewood says.
Assistant chief Hunter says there are now five overtime details and that about 100 vehicles are being stopped each weekend night. There have been no major incidents downtown since late September’s deadly triple shooting that killed Stephens College senior nursing student Aiyanna Williams.
You’ll notice the increased law enforcement presence in downtown Columbia on weekends through at least Thanksgiving weekend, according to Mr. Seewood:
“Well ideally it will continue at least until the football season is over. Get us into the winter, usually during the winter time a lot of things kind of slow down. You don’t have as many people hanging out outside. And so that would be the goal,” says Seewood.
Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, fifth ward councilman Don Waterman, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick, CPS Superintendent Dr. Jeff Klein and others attended Friday’s joint meeting at CPS’ Aslin building.