Columbia city officials using lighting to deter crime downtown

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia city officials are turning up the lights downtown in the hopes of deterring violent crime.

Columbia police have put portable lights near bars and other establishments open late in downtown Columbia to discourage groups from loitering in the area late at night.

Police say the lights are moved to problem areas or areas where businesses request more police presence. Eight shots heard or shots fired reports have been made in 2022, according to Columbia police dispatch records.

Some residents, like Danny Sacco, have expressed feeling unsafe while downtown late at night.

"I just like don't feel comfortable walking by myself, I'd say, much less having my girlfriend walk by herself," Sacco said.

Columbia police public information officer Jeff Pitts said the logic behind utilizing the lights is psychological.

"Bright lights offer a sensory stimulation that will basically, with hope, prevent the loitering of people who are coming out of establishments downtown," Pitts said.

Downtown crime often comes from large groups interacting after they've left bars. Pitts said police are trying to deter groups from hanging around after bars close.

"Large groups in small areas that are loitering that have been consuming alcoholic beverages could possibly result in some sort of disagreement with the end result being violence," Pitts said.

Columbia police move lights to areas with high foot traffic at night or any problem areas.

"Last night there was an event that was hosted at a local bar downtown that we actually moved one of the portable lights closer because we knew there was going to be a large crowd and we just wanted to prevent any loitering," Pitts said.

Nicki Davis, with The District, said bars will communicate with her and the police when they're holding a large event and want more police presence.

"We had a bar downtown bring in a larger name last night and they went out to CPD and asked them for a stronger presence they knew it would be a bigger crowd they included us on those emails asking for just a little bit more collaboration between CPD and the bar to make sure it was safe," Davis said.

The District paid $30,000 to the City of Columbia to put in more than 90 lights that would mimic daylight downtown.

"This lighting will enhance during the daylighting, but specifically at night um you can turn this lighting up to daylight settings," Davis said. "So at 2 a.m. when those bars let out, it can go up to daylight settings, really help disperse the crowds that tend to gather at the 2 a.m. time. At the same time, say if something happened at 12:30, CPD could take this lighting and turn it up if they needed to in specific areas."

However, those lights have yet to be installed. The city cites issues with the supply chain and finding workers.

"In the meantime, because we have been waiting for so long, I do know that the city has gone around and installed better LED lighting in a lot of the main areas to bring up the light just a bit, but it's not what we've paid the $30,000 for so far," Davis said.

Pitts encourages residents to be diligent while out at night.

"If you start to notice any sort of issue or disagreement you can get the establishment staff that works in there, or if it has gotten to the point where you feel more comfortable calling 9-1-1, most certainly do that," Pitts said.