CPD making progress on staffing shortage, police chief says

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude says the department is cutting down on its staffing shortage.

About a dozen Columbia residents gathered into the Thornbrook Clubhouse in southwest Columbia Wednesday night intently listening to Schlude as she described the efforts of CPD to hire officers. The meeting was a part of the city's monthly "Let's Talk Local Discussion" incuding Schlude and Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman.

The department currently has 14 officer vacancies and 2 sergeant vacancies, Schlude said.

That's down from June, when there were 27 vacancies.

Schlude said she is pleased with the department's new in-house training academy. CPD launched the academy in December, that takes place in the basement of the Turner building on North Seventh Street, next to the department's headquarters.

The city pays Lincoln University $3,900 for each student, saving the department money from paying the Law Enforcement Training Institute which charges $5,500, according to previous reporting.

Waterman is in favor the academy. He said it not only helps with the hiring process, but he also believes it'll help with retention.

"Having our own academy, they're going to feel a part of us from the beginning, which I think is going to be a good thing... and not having to learn and unlearn something is just going to make them fit in quicker," Waterman said.

14 officers graduated from the training academy on Friday, according to CPD spokesman Brian McNeil.

Schlude said the department is also focusing on advertising throughout the state to help with its hiring process, as well as focusing on laterally hiring.

Brian Taylor has lived in the city for four years and said he's noticed issues popping up throughout certain parts of Columbia due to the lack of police officers. However, Taylor said he believes CPD, as well as the Columbia City Council are making it a point to address the problem.

"I think there are issues cropping up in our community on the edges on the fringes of our society because we've been so short of a policing force, but I do think that I commend the efforts of the police force," Taylor said.

Some residents raised the concern Wednesday night that Columbia is a growing city and questioned whether CPD is hiring enough officers each year to match the growth.

Schlude agreed, saying ideally police should be hiring roughly five to six more officers each year. Taylor said he agrees with the sentiment that Columbia's environment is now more of a city than a town.

"I believe that's going to bring new and dynamic issues for the police force... whether that attracts more criminals or more gangs or whatever that may mean in terms of growth dynamic that they have to prepare for," Taylor said.