University of Missouri, City of Columbia release joint list of crime-fighting plans
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Auditing criminal cases arising from incidents downtown and adding county deputies and state troopers to patrol shifts are among the plans Columbia and University of Missouri leaders have for reducing crime.
MU and the City of Columbia on Wednesday put out a list of actions they’re taking to make downtown safer after a shooting over homecoming weekend killed a woman and hurt two other innocent bystanders. A Florida man has been charged with murder for allegedly firing 11 shots into a crowd.
Other plans include:
Increased staffing for the Columbia Police Department and the University of Missouri Police Department;
Meetings with the U.S. attorney to discuss available federal resources;
Meeting with Gov. Mike Kehoe;
Requesting that business owners complete a “letter of enforcement”;
Reviewing environmental issues, such as lighting, traffic flow and people blocking sidewalks.
University of Missouri System President Mun Choi wrote a letter to city and county leaders after the shooting early Saturday, urging action and saying he planned to get Kehoe involved. City officials have responded with the idea of a task force and other plans, including increased patrols.
Choi has also invited city leaders to walk with him downtown late Saturday into Sunday.