Nia Hinson
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Crime in northeast Columbia isn’t slowing down, according to one resident of Ward 3.
Demetria Stephens told the Columbia City Council on Monday night that crime in Columbia’s Ward 3 is urgent, and warned city leaders that if they didn’t take steps to intervene, it’s going to continue to get worse.
Stephens spoke during the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting, claiming that a juvenile has been breaking into vehicles on the east side of town. She told the city that she fears if police aren’t able to get to the child first, “street justice” will..
Stephens said the continued crime in the area has given her anxiety, prompting her to want to move.
“This is like a fire. Something needs to happen now,” Stephens said. “I’m in and out of my house early and late and every time I come out of the house, my hand is on my 9 millimeter. Every time….there’s certain streets I don’t even drive down because I have to worry. I’m on the fence like I’m in the military and I’m not but this is immediate.”
Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample also spoke during the City Council’s comment portion of the meeting, empathizing with her concerns and brought up the work of “NOCAP” and their work in the area.
The Neighborhood Opportunity and Community Accountability Proconsul was formed in May 2025 by the Office of Violence Prevention Advisory Board to bring needed resources to identified areas. Office of Violence Prevention Leader D’Markus Thomas-Brown previously told ABC 17 News the group was considering bringing a community center to the neighborhood.
“I agree with her (Stephens.) Just looking at the data that’s on our crime dashboard, Ward 3 is kind of the hotspots for violence in Columbia, which is why the NOCAP group started here in this ward,” Sample told ABC 17 News on Wednesday. “I am very much aware of the violence and want to address it as effectively as I can from the seat that I am in.”
Sample said she was not aware of the burglaries that Stephens was referring to, but said that she plans to follow-up with Police Chief Jill Schlude about it. Sample also said she plans to speak with Thomas-Brown about anything they can do to reach out to the alleged youth committing the crimes.
The group is made up of residents, Sample, Thomas-Brown and local nonprofits.
Thomas-Brown said on Wednesday afternoon that he had spoken with Stephens shortly before he addressed the City Council on Monday about her concerns. He said he understands the concerns in the area, but thinks that the size of the ward should also be taken into account.
“It’s not to demean any statement but just looking at the raw facts of like ‘OK, this is a big ward so obviously the whole ward is not experiencing these things but there are pockets,” Thomas-Brown said. “You have here these pockets of whether it’s poverty, pockets of housing disparity or what have you that does lend to more of a violent reality for different ones who live in those spaces and I think Ward 3 unfortunately has more of a representation than some of the other wards.”
The group has also secured the contract to provide trauma training. The training will last three hours and will be free to anyone who chooses to join it. The idea stems from the response from community members who said they had not been to heal.
“We developed this program mental health for community, adherence and understanding on grief and loss and adverse childhood experiences,” Thomas-Brown said. “What happens when something traumatic happens in our neighborhood and not only to the adults, but to the kids?” And how can we cope and collectively heal and work back from these things?”
Thomas-Brown also said the group continues to work with the Hanover Village neighborhood about the lack of lighting in the area that residents have raised concerns about.
Sample said she regularly attends the monthly meetings and has been impressed with how engaged in residents have been.
Sample said her role in the meetings is to listen to the concerns of the people who live in the neighborhoods and work to address their concerns about crime and safety. Sample said the group has also worked to talk about and identify where youth in Ward 3 are most at-risk for getting into trouble.
She said that’s been identified as the times school isn’t in session. In response, the group has organized a youth-centered event at Indian Hills Park during spring break next month.
“You know, to try to get the families there, to try to get the youth there to provide something for families and kids to do in a safe spot to at least have one day where we know where they’re at and they’re engaging,” Sample said.
Sample said they’re also working to get law enforcement officers at the event that will be able to engage with the youth and work to build relationship and trust levels.
According to Thomas-Brown, the group is also looking into the possibility of expanding to central Columbia.
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