Safety ambassadors begin monitoring downtown Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia is taking a new angle in public safety downtown, with five safety ambassadors patrolling the city in the evenings starting Wednesday.
The ambassador program is a partnership between the city, the District and the University of Missouri. City documents in previous reporting say it will cost all three parties a roughly combined $500,000 per year.
Five ambassadors will roam downtown Columbia on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 4:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. One full-time outreach ambassador will also work in downtown Columbia during the daytime.
The safety ambassadors will help with monitoring the area, checking in with unhoused individuals and help escort residents to their vehicles or safe locations throughout the night.
The ambassadors are not law enforcement officers, but will have a direct line to the Columbia Police Department in case of emergencies. Ambassadors are also trained in deescalation and support services. They will also be wearing an orange uniform with "safety ambassador" on the shirt.
"They are there to make sure people are having fun in a safe way," The District's Executive Director Nickie Davis said. "We'll be able to call them [CPD] in, if something is getting a little too rowdy, they'll also help make sure that our street lights are working downtown, that our food vendors that are out late at night have proper permitting and are in the right locations."
The outreach ambassador will focus on interacting with unhoused individuals, those with mental health challenges and substance use disorders. This includes daily check-ins to build relationships and providing a direct link to community crisis resources.
The ambassadors were brought in through the Block by Block private security company. The company has previously provided street cleaners to the city.
"We use their clean teams, so that is a different arm that they have," Davis said. "So this is their safety arm that we have seen in action in other downtowns, we know block by block does great work in downtowns, that is their focus."
City leaders began exploring the program after attending the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Leadership visit in Columbia, South Carolina, in October 2025, touting the success of the city's long-term success.
The city's portion of the ambassador program will cost a little over $168,000 per year, with plans to renew the program through March 3031.
The District works closely with the City, with operations being funded by a half-cent sales tax and property tax from businesses that live within its boundaries downtown.
Davis said the ambassadors are not a pilot program and are set to work in the city indefinitely.
"We started in the summer, so that they could get the lay of the land, kind of understand what it looks like a little bit before the students are here," Davis said. "Ideally, yes, if this program goes well and we are able to invest more to bring more ambassadors down, we would love to see that."
Check back for updates.
