Columbia Police Department will increase patrols downtown Friday

UPDATE 10:27 p.m.: ABC 17 News had crews downtown from 7:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Friday night. Our crews saw at least eight officers patrolling the streets, and there was a visible increase in patrols. A city spokesperson said Friday that the extra patrols are not just because of the recent shootings, but also because the college students are back in town. He said officials with the city have also spoken to MU on how best to use mass emergency alert systems.

ORIGINAL: With college students moved back to town, the Columbia Police Department will have more officers patrolling downtown beginning Friday, Aug. 17. The decision was made after four downtown shootings in three weekends.

Columbia Police Chief Ken Burton said the department will reevaluate the number of additional officers needed on a week-to-week basis.

“With students back, it’s a huge addition to the workload,” said the executive director of the Columbia Police Officer’s Association, Dale Roberts.

He said CPD has jurisdiction over Greek Town where many of MU’s sorority and fraternity houses are located.

“Those are private property, so those are under the domain of the Columbia Police Department,” he said.

The University of Missouri Police Department patrols MU’s campus and properties owned by the university.