Columbia Police holding North Columbia BBQ for residents

In an effort to get residents to get to know their local officers, the Columbia Police Department is holding a community BBQ in North Columbia Sunday afternoon.

The BBQ will be at Auburn Hills Park on Derby Ridge Road from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.

According to CPD, officers from the Community Outreach Unit will be working the grill and serving up smiles to event-goers. They are looking forward to networking with residents and building a stronger community in the North Neighborhood.

Members from Columbia Parks and Recreation, as well as the Home Owners’ Association will also be present at the event.

This barbecue is the first of several barbecues the Community Outreach Unit is planning this summer. The next barbecue will be held in the East Strategic Plan Neighborhood at Indian Hills Park on June 18th. Food is being provided by the Home Owners’ Associations and the Columbia Police Department.

Northern Columbia has seen an increase of crime recently. In an effort to reduce crime, and response times to calls, the CPD is working to build a police substation on the corner of Rangeline Street and Brown School Road.

But until that substation is built, the CPD is asking the city to allow them to lease a unit in the Wynwood Townhouses area.

The Columbia City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance during their meeting on Monday, June 6th.

An attachmentto that ordinancesays the unit would be leased by the City of Columbia. It also says rent would be $300 per month and require a $575 security deposit.