(COLUMBIA, MO) -
During 2015, Columbia police officers were dispatched to 76,539 calls for service in the City of Columbia. In addition, officers self-initiated an additional 70,144 calls/incidents, for a total of 146,683 calls/incidents. In the same time period CPD officers made 4,351 arrests. (2.9% of citizen contacts resulted in an arrest).
- Citizen contacts: 146,683
- Arrests: 4,351
Sworn personnel of the Columbia Police Department follow strict guidelines and policy in regards to responding to resistance. These guidelines and policy are based upon best practice and case law. Officers are required to use only force that reasonably appears necessary when overcoming resistance, given the facts and circumstances at the time of the event. During 2015, officers used the following actions to overcome resistance:
- Joint Manipulation
- Kinetic Energy Impact Device
- Strikes
- Pepper Spray
- Handcuffing
- Impact Weapon Other
- Pressure Point Technique
- Other Physical Force
- Balance Displacement
- Taser Deploy/Drive Stun
- Taser Laser/Arc Display
- Drawing/Exhibit Firearm
- Firing weapon in defense of self or others
Officers overcame resistance in 350 incidents (0.2% of all citizen contacts) during 2015. Some of the incidents involved multiple subjects; some involved an officer attempting/using multiple techniques and/or multiple officers attempting/using some type of technique. Note: a single incident with a particular arrestee can result in multiple reviews, because each individual use of technique is reviewed. In total officers had to overcome resistance in 8% of arrests. The following details the total number of techniques used by officers during the 350 responses to resistance:
- Officers used joint manipulation on 61 occasions.
- Officers used a Kinetic Energy Impact Device on 1 occasion.
- Officers used strikes on 17 occasions.
- Officers used pepper spray on 26 occasions.
- Officers used canine bites on 0 occasions.
- Officers handcuffed subjects on 144 occasions (without resulting in a formal arrest).
- Officers used "Impact Weapon Other" on 1 occasion.
- Officers used balance displacement on 142 occasions.
- Officers drew/exhibited their firearms on 197 occasions.
- Officers fired their weapon in defense of self or others on 1 occasion.
- Officers used a Taser® on 37 occasions.
- 12 Taser® Deployment/Drive Stun
- 25 Laser Display/Arc Display/Exhibit Taser®
- Officers used pressure point techniques on 8 occasions.
- Officers used other physical force on 61 occasions.
In 2015, 0 (zero) of the above incidents have been found to be "Improper."
Of the 146,683 citizen contacts, the Columbia Police Department received 41 complaints (0.02% of all citizen contacts) from citizens alleging police misconduct as defined by City Ordinance[1]. City Ordinance also requires that the complaint investigation process conclude with a decision by the Police Chief that the complaint is unfounded (acts complained of did not occur or were misconstrued), the complaint is not sustained (insufficient facts established to either prove or disprove the acts complained of), the complaint is sustained (sufficient facts established to prove misconduct) or the officer is exonerated (acts complained of occurred but were justified, lawful and proper). Of the 41 complaints, the following findings were made:
Unfounded 19
Exonerated 9
Sustained 8
Not Sustained 2
Withdrawn 1
Pending 2
In addition the Columbia Police Department initiated 58 further investigations following contact from citizens. These contacts did not meet the definition of a complaint as defined by Section 21-45 of City Ordinance complaints of misconduct. Of the 58 contacts, the following findings were made:
Unfounded 5
Exonerated 9
Sustained 3
Not Sustained 12
Withdrawn 7
Pending 2
No Misconduct Alleged 20
In 2015, the Columbia Police Department initiated 51 internal complaints of misconduct. Of the 51 internal complaints, the following findings were made:
Unfounded 3
Exonerated 4
Sustained 39
Not Sustained 0
Withdrawn 0
Pending 3
No Misconduct Alleged 2
In the same reporting period, 2015, officers of the Columbia Police Department received 77 compliments from members of the public.
[1] Sec. 21-45. - Definitions. Complaint means a written statement alleging misconduct of a police officer or community service aide involving interaction with the public.
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