Police meet with southeast Columbia neighborhoods to discuss community policing

Community members from Columbia’s Southeast neighborhoods and police officered gathered at New Haven Elementary Tuesday evening to discuss community policing.

Tuesday’s meeting is the first of several “Building Stronger Beats” meetings, and this one focuses on beats 70 and 80. Click here to see the map of beat areas.

The Southeast community recently witnessed gun violence as two men were shot on September 29 at Copper Beech Townhomes on Old-63. Lieutenant Eric Hughes, who was at the meeting, also said that four guns have been stolen out of cars in southeast Columbia this month alone.

Columbia Police Officers have described the department as understaffed. Public Information Officer Bryana Maupin told ABC 17, “We have more calls for service than we have officers on duty.” She said being short-staffed inhibits the department’s ability to build strong connections with the community.

The meetings aim to bridge the gap between police operations and the public. Three more meetings are planned for October, and you can find the schedule here. Beats 10 and 20 (Northwest Columbia) will meet on Thursday at West Middle School. All of the meetings run from 7-8 p.m.