CPOA survey shows improving morale for Columbia police officers
Dozens of Columbia police officers reported higher overall morale since 2016, according to a recent survey conducted by the Columbia Police Officers’ Association.
Spokesperson Dale Roberts said they sent out the survey Saturday and a majority of CPOA’s members took it. He said he couldn’t say yet how many officers took the survey, although there are more than 150 officers in the Columbia Police Department. Roberts said a majority of them are members.
With several major changes in leadership, CPOA decided to send out the survey to find out if anything had changed since interim City Manager John Glascock and interim Police Chief Geoff Jones took over.
Roberts said he had been hearing good things about the change but had only heard them from a minority of the officers.
” When you hear those things, you think maybe it’s time to do a follow-up survey to see if that’s one or two people or maybe it’s widespread, ” he said. ” It seems to be widespread. The responses were really, really positive. ”
In 2016, a majority of officers reported feeling very unsatisfied with working conditions at the department. In the most recent survey, almost 91 percent of them said working conditions were improved or significantly improved.
Morale has reportedly improved by 76 percent. Officers reported the morale of their co-workers had improved almost 91 percent.
” If they’re unhappy, they don’t hesitate to tell us, ” said Roberts. ” These aren’t bashful people. When we ask them for their opinion, we get it. ”
In the short months since Jones has become chief, he’s implemented changes that include working to improve policies and procedures.
In this weekend’s survey, CPOA asked how the changes would influence the officers. According to the results, 93 percent of them said the changes would make them more productive and able to do their job.
” He’s changing policies and making improvements they appreciate, ” said Roberts.
Columbia City Councilman Matt Pitzer said he was glad to see the impacts of Jones’ work reflected in the survey, but maintained that the true test of his work would be seen in morale surveys one or two years from now, ” in how he implements the Council’s community policing directives and in his ability to improve public safety throughout Columbia. ”
Councilman Mike Trapp said he was more inclined to go by results of the city’s employee engagement survey. The city contracts out the survey to consultants who conduct it yearly. The most recent survey, conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 21, showed employees felt undervalued.
” I’m pleased that the changes Interim Chief Jones has made have been well-received by the officers, ” said Trapp . ” I hold more faith in the scientific survey we completed with all staff and know we have more work to do. ”
The survey was done after former City Manager Mike Matthes resigned and before former Police Chief Ken Burton left.
Councilman Ian Thomas told ABC 17 News he was ” delighted ” with the results.
” These data reflect extremely well on Interim Chief Geoff Jones, ” he said.
ABC 17 News has asked CPOA about releasing the survey results in their entirety. We will update the story when the organization can release that information.
