CPD beat commanders host spring community meetings

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

Columbia Police beat commanders will begin holding a series of community meetings in their respective beats starting the last week of April. The Building Stronger Beats meetings, formally known as the Town Hall meetings, focus on an open discussion between area residents and the respective beat commanders. The meetings will take place:

April 27, 2017 - Beats 30 & 40 with Lt. Geoff Jones

Derby Ridge Elementary School

4000 Derby Ridge Drive

6:00-8:00 p.m.

April 27, 2017 - Beats 10 & 20 with Lt. Barb Buck

West Junior High School

401 Clinkscales Road

7:00-9:00 p.m.

May 2, 2017 - Beats 50 & 60 with Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter

Gentry Middle School

4200 Bethel Street

6:30-8:00 p.m.

May 16, 2017 - Beats 70 & 80 with Lt. Eric Hughes

Shepard Boulevard Elementary School

2616 Shepard Boulevard

7:15-9:15 p.m.

These meetings are FREE and open to the public. The conversation will include brief area statistics and initiatives officers are taking to help build stronger beats. The beat commanders will be available to answer questions, listen to concerns, and take suggestions from residents.

This is the second time in six months the Columbia Police Department has facilitated these beat meetings. Last October, Columbia Police lieutenants spent time with several residents during these meetings engaging in discussion, among which contained topics of crime in Columbia and the department's shortage of officers.

"We encourage everyone to attend a meeting in their area," says Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter. "The citizens of Columbia are an extension of our department, and it's imperative we establish and maintain positive relationships to combat crime together."

Citizens can locate their police beat by:

1. Visiting the City of Columbia CityView map here - https://gis.gocolumbiamo.com/cityview/.
2. Type your home address in the search field.
3. Once your address is mapped, click on the blue box next to your address.
4. Details of your address will pop-up. Scroll about half-way down to where you see "Police District."
5. The number shown to the right of "Police District" is your police beat.

Anyone with questions regarding the Building Stronger Beats meetings, or for assistance in locating your police beat, please contact the Public Relations Unit at (573) 817-5049, or by e-mail at [email protected]create new email.