First weekend for CPD parking enforcement downtown

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department announced that parking enforcement is now under the supervision of the traffic unit and special events division.

The parking enforcement went into effect on Thursday. 

According to the release, previously the parking enforcement agents worked in the City of Columbia’s Department of Public Works.  

The release also said the transfer of duties to CPD will allow for the extension of the community policing model to the downtown area. 

"By increasing CPD's presence at this level, our goal is to strengthen relationships with our community members and business owners and ensure those who live and work in this area feel safe,” Chief Geoff Jones said in the news release.

Owner of Yellow Dog Bookshop Joe Cheuvalier said he hopes this will lead to a higher sense of community with the police.

“The more any city official, whether it’s policemen [or] council members that actually know the people in the town I think the better off we’ll all be,” Cheuvalier said.

He said he doesn’t have many safety concerns with his book store downtown except on Mizzou football game days.

“Which is the only time we’ve sustained anything resembling property damage from our book cart being knocked over and our sign knocked down," Cheuvalier said. "Other than that things are generally fairly calm for us.”

Cheuvalier said he hopes this will strengthen the relationship between the downtown community and the police.

“Whether it’s business owners or downtown regulars, knowing who the police officers are, it could only be a good thing.”