Columbia Police proactive patrols lead to arrests

New numbers from the Columbia Police Department show that 16 people were arrested to due to recent proactive patrol. That patrol included more police in certain areas due to a recent wave in shootings.

Between drivers and contact with people on the street, 147 people were checked.

Columbia Police hasn’t given ABC 17 News the names of the 16 arrested, or said what crimes police arrested them for during the proactive patrol.

CPD said the proactive patrol has received help along the way from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, the MU PD, and the State Highway Patrol.

“When we do these kind of saturation efforts, we’re not able to fully staff them on our own, because we don’t have those resources. So when we all come together in a joint effort like that, it makes a huge difference,” said CPD Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter.

Last Wednesday. Police investigated a shooting on Sanford Avenue, a block away from two other shootings on Worley Street.

Chad Canfield has lived in the area for 14 years. He said crime is nothing new to the area, but he has seen more police lately.

“I know they certainly can’t be everywhere all the time, but all in all, the response time has been pretty good. I think it’s just a matter of catching them while it’s happening, which is probably next to impossible,” said Canfield.

Since the shooting, he said his neighborhood has actually become closer, and talking to his neighbors has made him feel safer.

“On the bright side,it was nice seeing the street out and about the next day, as opposed to lock up your doors and don’t talk to your neighbors,” Canfield said.

“When you get the conversation going, ‘Oh, okay, you’re just as concerned as I am about this,'” Canfield said. “So, that kind of commonality is sort of what builds that that trust.”

Assistant Chief Hunter said there’s no way to plan these proactive patrols ahead of something like this. He’s seen a lot of help from the public in trying to stop these crimes.