Columbia Police Department to no longer publish names of crash victims

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department is no longer releasing the names of people who died in crashes, a CPD spokesman told ABC 17 News

Spokesman Brian McNeill told ABC 17 News in an email that CPD is following the example of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and stated the same reasoning as the patrol for concealing the information was used.

MSHP announced on Nov. 1, 2024, that it would no longer publish the names of those involved in crashes and boat/drowning reports.  MSHP wrote in a release that it was no longer publishing names because it was “notified of scam incidents across the state” that targets crash victims or people who know someone involved in a crash.”

CPD had announced the name of the victim in a fatal crash that occurred on Aug. 14.