Police Beat — November 19, 2009
Crash on intersection of College and Stadium
MUPD officers were dispatched at 2:18 p.m. to the intersection of Stadium and College Ave on a report of a four car crash, MUPD Sgt. Alan Fish said.
Fish said a vehicle going southbound on College Avenue when it swerved into the northbound lane, hitting another car. The collision resulted in two more crashes in the intersection, including a Central Concrete truck that was about to turn left onto College Ave. The scene was cleared at 3:22 p.m. and three of the four vehicles were towed, Fish said.
Adam Craig, the driver of the first vehicle, was given two citations for a steady red light violation and another for colliding with a motor vehicle, Fish said.
Fish also said no drugs or alcohol are suspected to be involved but he didn't know if any MU students were in the crash.
There were no injuries aside from minor bruising from the seat belt on Craig, Fish said.
Citizens Police Review Board has first meeting
The Columbia Citizens Police Review Board met for the first time on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming year and to vote on a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.
The board unanimously voted Ellen LoCurto-Martinez as Chairwoman of the board and James Martin as Vice Chairman. Prior to being on the Review Board, Martinez was on the Citizens' Oversight Committee. The tasks of that committee are completed now, Martinez said.
Martin said he is grateful to be voted Vice Chair of the board. “I am glad people have enough confidence in me to vote me as vice chair,” Martin said. “This is going to be a wonderful group to work with.”
Columbia Police Department Chief Kenneth Burton and Lt. Lloyd Simmons from the Professional Standards Unit were also present at the meeting to assist board members with their upcoming training in law enforcement and internal affairs.
“It’s just an organizational meeting and I wanted to offer my help,” Burton said. “I am very sensitive to the fact that (the board) needs to be a separate body.”
The board planned to have meet on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 for training on law enforcement internal affairs and excessive force topics.
Martinez said she is very honored and privileged to be voted chairwoman of the board and said there is a lot of work to be done before Jan 1., when the board begins taking complaints.
“It’s going to be a lot of work but it’s necessary work,” Martinez said. “We can’t do our job unless we’re trained.”
Rex Campbell, a sociologist of Columbia and also a former Citizens Oversight Committee member spoke to the board about the history of the idea of the review board and to offer suggestions on their training.
“When I address a group like this, I don’t know whether to say congratulations or condolences,” Campbell said. “I think what you will do will make a great contribution to the city of Columbia.”
The board also held a public comment portion of the meeting, where Columbia attorney David Tyson Smith addressed the importance of the board being independent from the police department.
“You have to be careful that you are maintaining your independence and there is a perception of independence in everything you do,” Smith said.
