Columbia’s violence reduction landscape analysis to expected be completed by end of September

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Office of Violence Prevention gave an update on upcoming analysis completion dates involved in the effort to curb violent crime in the community.

These violence analysis reports were first brought up in January in a collaboration with the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform. According to a previous report, at the time, city leaders said the final report was expected to be complete in four-to-six months.

The Office of Violence Prevention held a meeting on Thursday, where the timeline of these analysis reports was discussed.

D’Markus Thomas-Brown, Violence Prevention Administrator, said the violence reduction landscape analysis will be presented on Sept. 29.

Thomas-Brown said the gun-violence analysis had its initial meeting on Feb. 13, but has been held up since. Its most recent meeting was Tuesday. Thomas-Brown said he can not give an ETA for the gun violence analysis, but said they are not in a place where they have something to worry about.

Thomas-Brown said that March 2027 the office will have a full strategic plan.

"This is this is holistically going to be a feeder and to making sure Columbia as a whole, right. Is is the place where people want to live, work, learn and play and that it is a safe space for everybody included," Thomas-Brown said.

Thomas-Brown said that he hopes to create an ecosystem within the community.

"And there's a cohesive function so that we see the reduction of violence, but also the flourishing of citizens here in Columbia," said Thomas-Brown.

There will be community feedback sessions held for the office of violence prevention and Thomas-Brown hopes to get candid feedback.

"But what I'm hoping for is that we get candid feedback and get people to give us, when they think we're missing what they think we could expand or where they think actual problems," Thomas-Brown said.