CoMoCitizens works for permanent change in CPD policy

A SWAT raid incited the group's formation and action.

By Samantha Sunne

Published Aug. 24, 2010

When video was released of a Columbia Police Department SWAT raid, in which one dog was killed, another injured and that ultimately resulted in a single misdemeanor drug charge, many in Columbia expressed outrage.

Donald and Erica Warren, of Columbia, founded a group in response to the raid video.

"We were disturbed over the video itself, and basically felt like we needed to do something," Donald Warren said.

CoMoCitizens is an organization dedicated to changing the Columbia Police Department's policy in conducting residential searches for nonviolent crimes, according to their website. The group’s roughly 30 members communicate through Facebook, newsletters and monthly meetings, Erica Warren said.

At their latest meeting Sunday, the group decided to compile information about the issuing of search warrants for nonviolent offenses. CoMoCitizens member Mark Flakne suggested they submit their findings to the Citizens Police Review Board, which is investigating the same issue.

"CoMoCitizens is about nonviolence," Donald Warren said. "We don't want the search raids for nonviolent offenses."

These nonviolent offenses include charges of misdemeanor drug possession, such as the one attained in the Feb. 11 SWAT raid. CoMoCitizens wants CPD to enforce Columbia's low-priority marijuana law, Warren said.

CPD spokeswoman Jill Wieneke said there is confusion about the current marijuana policy because it refers only to the possession of a user amount of marijuana, not the manufacture or sale of it.

"(Our policy) doesn't say it's the lowest priority, it's among the lower priorities," Weineke said. "We're not going to send police officers out to look for people with less than 35 grams of marijuana."

Someone caught with less than that amount is given a ticket, Weineke said. Arrests are made only in special cases, such as a person with multiple possession charges in the last five years or a felony in the last ten.

"This is really applicable because we have a large student population," Wieneke said. "(Supporters of the ordinance) didn't want students losing financial aid for a first-time marijuana offense."

CoMoCitizens support the policy changes that CPD Chief Kenneth Burton instituted in May, following the SWAT raid in February. Donald Warren said the CRB's recommendation to City Council to make the changes permanent is a victory for the group.

Burton's policy changes include the mandates that police act on a warrant within eight hours of its issue and assess all dangers and innocent bystanders before entry.

"We must consider the presence of children and animals when evaluating the risks involved in the use of a dynamic entry," Burton said in his statement at the time.

Another course of action CoMoCitizens considered at its meeting was investigating the arrest of David Riley, a man sentenced to two years in prison for resisting arrest. Members at the meeting questioned the truthfulness of the arresting officer's statement and Riley's criminal history.

"Some people may feel that David Riley is a scumbag," Flakne said. "It's just that scumbags have rights, too."

Eapen Thampy, another member of the group, announced a fundraiser for Riley's family on Sept. 23 at The Blue Note. He and Rick Gurley, a private investigator working on the case, are planning raffles and live music to raise money for the family, who he said has lost their home and income due to the incident.