Columbia residents split on increased police presence downtown
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Saturday marked the second weekend of an increased police presence in downtown Columbia that followed the September shooting that killed Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.
Since the deadly shooting, the City of Columbia Police Chief announced that law enforcement would be increased downtown, Mayor Barbara Buffaloe announced plans to create a student advisory council, and the city rolled out its rideshare drop-off locations to streamline weekend traffic for safety.
While downtown on Saturday night, an ABC 17 News reporter observed larger crowds compared to last week, when UM President Mun Choi walked through the area. However, the reporter and several others noticed that while police and Boone County Sheriff’s deputies were still visibly present, there seemed to be fewer patrols than during the initial rollout, with increased foot patrols and Boone County Sheriffs present starting around 1 a.m.
ABC 17 News spoke with more than a dozen students, restaurant workers, and Columbia residents who shared mixed reactions to the heightened police presence. Some expressed concern that the added patrols were unnecessary and created more unease, adding that a recent CPD report showed Columbia’s shootings so far in 2025 are about half the number reported during the same period in 2024.
One student said Columbia should further increase security downtown. Others criticized police for focusing too heavily on jaywalking, arguing their time could be better spent elsewhere.
About half of the people ABC 17 News spoke with Saturday night said they noticed fewer disruptions downtown and felt a greater sense of safety.
“Yes, a big difference,” Disco of Disco’s To Go food truck that operates in downtown Columbia said. “There’s been less fighting, less shootings, they actually clear the streets kinda early.”