Columbia officials aim to tackle rising violent crime in 2025
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As 2024 comes to a close, Columbia City Council members are hopeful for a reduction in violent crime in 2025. The city has experienced nearly an 11 percent increase in violent crimes this year compared to 2023, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s crime report.
Columbia recorded 569 violent crimes as of Dec. 29, an increase from last year but still below the more than 600 incidents reported in both 2021 and 2022. The surge includes increases in murder, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and robbery. Firearms were the most frequently used weapons in these crimes. The MSHP database does not yet list any violent crimes since Dec. 16, so numbers will go up by the end of the year.
Fifth Ward City Council Member Don Waterman told ABC 17 his concerns regarding the rise in crime and shared his hopes for reducing it in the upcoming year.
“I know there’s some that make the argument, ‘Well, Columbia’s growing, so we should expect an increase in crime.’ I don’t accept that,” Waterman said.
Waterman noted that repeat offenders are often responsible for multiple crimes, a pattern frequently discussed in his conversations with law enforcement.
According to the report, more than 55% of violent crime victims were women, while 44.6% were men.
Juveniles take the lead in those taken into custody for violent crimes.
"Showing some of the children that there are alternatives," Waterman said of ways to try and reduce this. "Looking at role models other than you know, somebody that's making money selling drugs on the street. There are many, many, many ways to be successful in Columbia."
The city saw an increase in murder cases, with 13 people killed in homicides this year. Seven people died in homicides in 2023. Police have made arrests in all but one of the 2024 killings, a shooting on Doris Drive that killed Royelle Hunt on Mach 20.
In 36.4% of murder cases, the relationship between the victim and the offender remains unknown. However, 27.3% involved strangers, and 18.2% were committed by family members.
Aggravated assault also rose, with 417 incidents reported, 39 more than last year. Nearly 46% of these cases have been cleared. Firearms and other dangerous weapons were the most commonly used in these attacks.
The majority of aggravated assaults—29.6%—were perpetrated by acquaintances, followed by 24% with an unknown relationship, and 19% involving family members.
Waterman expressed optimism about the Columbia Police Department’s recruitment progress and the implementation of new systems like Flock and NIBIN, both designed to improve crime investigations.
"We can start doing that again in-house rather than having to send it out and delay investigations," Waterman said. "You know, and big advantage to that is in maybe tying some crimes together that we may not have been able to before."
According to Waterman, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood is actively reviewing applications for the violence prevention administrator position that the city opened up in October.
"He [Seewood] understands it's going to be a significant hire," Waterman said. "There's going to be a lot of visibility on a lot of eyes. So it's finding the right person for the job. If you look at some of the other decisions he's made...everything I've seen they've been good decisions. So I'm confident that he'll make a good decision with this."
Despite the challenges, Waterman emphasized that Columbia remains a good place to live. He highlighted the city’s thriving business community and the opportunities available for growth.
"There's still opportunity here, many opportunities. So I think it's a matter of putting those together and providing opportunities. By the same token, people like to feel safe when they go downtown or in their neighborhoods," Waterman said.
He also noted progress within Columbia Public Schools, which has shown improvement in recent testing cycle.
