City of Columbia, University of Missouri leaders meet behind closed doors on crime for fourth time
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
City of Columbia and University of Missouri leaders on Thursday held their fourth public safety meeting since the university president called on Columbia to crack down on crime.
An ABC 17 News reporter saw University President Mun Choi, Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick, Fifth Ward Councilman Don Waterman and Columbia Police Department Deputy Chief Matt Stephens enter the meeting at the State Historical Society of Missouri. The public was not allowed inside the meeting room.
The meetings started after a deadly downtown Columbia shooting that killed a Stephens College student in September 2025.
In an ABC 17 News "Question of the Day," about 79% of those who voted say they would like public safety meetings to be open. Some city leaders also told ABC 17 News that they'd like to see the public invited into the meetings.
Choi told an ABC 17 News reporter after the meeting that the closed nature is not because it's secretive.
"For us to have that open discussion when we're thinking about the possibilities, and for us to do that in an environment where we don't have to be in front of the press," Choi said.
He said the meeting was about the list of eleven actions that law enforcement across Boone County can take, including increased staffing between all agencies and concentrated patrols downtown during peak weekend hours.
Also on that list is to meet with U.S. Attorney Matt Price, and Choi said a representative from the Department of Justice was at Thursday's meeting.
The Department of Justice was behind Operation Brightside, a federal warrant sweep throughout the city in November.
Choi also met with Gov. Mike Kehoe in December to discuss crime in Columbia, but the meeting left out city officials.
Choi said there will be more closed meetings like this one in the coming months.
