CPD unit monitors downtown Columbia
The downtown unit is especially looking for underage drinking.
Published Aug. 25, 2009
The Columbia Police Department is taking back the streets with its new downtown unit. The new unit's goal is to make downtown Columbia safer, particularly at bar-closing time.
"First and foremost, there will be a larger presence of officers in the downtown area in the evening," CPD Detective Jeff Westbrook said.
With summer ending, the larger presence is making an impact.
In a news release, CPD compared statistics from May 27 to June 27 of 2009 to the May 29 to June 28 of 2008. The number of assaults, peace disturbances and disturbances has decreased.
"We like to think that it's because of some police work," Westbrook said. "But there are a lot of different variables."
The downtown unit consists of six officers and one sergeant.
Westbrook said the number of assaults and disturbances might increase once school starts and could decrease again during the winter.
The downtown unit is building relationships with businesses downtown through the use of open business checks.
An open business check is when a police officer enters an open business and checks to make sure no laws are being violated, Westbrook said. Even if the assault numbers vary throughout the school year, the downtown patrol unit's checks will remain constant.
Westbrook said underage drinking was a crime officers would look for.
Westbrook also said he credits the CPD's new police chief for the increased communication with shopkeepers and owners of the downtown area.
CPD wants to know if there are any problems in the downtown area through the eyes of the businesses themselves, Westbrook said.
"It's a problem if they perceive it to be a problem and that's what matters," Westbrook said.
The initial surge of police officers downtown could be a sight that is, at first, discomforting for civilians.
"When police enter a business, it's a normal response at first to wonder, 'What's wrong,'" CPD spokeswoman Jessie Haden said. "But as our downtown unit becomes a more familiar sight, we expect people will know them by name and realize that they are simply making sure people are safe and laws aren't being violated."
Westbrook said mounted patrol units would be more common at events, such as the upcoming Roots 'N Blues 'N BBQ Festival.
CPD looks to continue building a strong relationship with downtown businesses with the upcoming safety summit. Beginning in early September, the safety summit will consist of eight representatives from various downtown businesses as well as CPD officers.
Downtown Unit Supervisor Sergeant Chris Kelley said the summit would address quality of life issues, such as a panhandlers, violence and graffiti.
It is imperative to get graffiti covered up as soon as possible to discourage repeated acts, Kelley said.
In a news release, Kelley also said he envisions the summit to be a large open meeting for owners to discuss concerns and express questions regarding crime in Columbia.
"The police can't do it alone," Kelley said. "The citizens are the eyes and ears."