CPD to present 2016 internal affairs report, 2 months after low morale findings
The Columbia Police Department is holding a press conference Monday to discuss the 2015 Internal Affairs report.
The Internal Affairs Unit, which is comprised of Sergeant Brian Tate and Officer Brad Anderson,is responsible for overseeing the investigation of any alleged misconduct or wrongdoing by CPD employee.
The annual report details citizen contacts, response to resistance, complaints and compliments.
Last year’s report found that CPD received 19 complaints from citizens alleging police misconduct. Of those 19 complaints, only three were sustained.
2014’s report also found that CPD initiated 32 complaints of misconduct. Of the 32 complaints, 22 were sustained.
The presentation of the 2015 report comes about two months after the Columbia Police Department was found to have low morale. Those findings came, in part, from the 2015 City of Columbia Employee Engagement Survey, which found that CPD had the lowest morale compared to all other departments.
At the time, Dale Roberts with the Columbia Police Officers’ Association cited reduced benefits as a contributing factor.
“Officers feel like they’re not allowed to do their job within the department,” Roberts told ABC 17 News in January. “And they’re not rewarded or encouraged in any way to do their job.”
ABC 17 News will have a crew at the press conference. Stay with ABC 17 News for more on this developing story.
