City of Columbia Missouri Police Department

600 E. Walnut Street
Columbia, MO 65201

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2018

CONTACT: Sergeant Brian Tate
Internal Affairs Unit
(573) 874-7431
[email protected]

Officer Mitch Baxley
Internal Affairs Unit
[email protected]

Bryana Larimer
Public Information Officer
(573) 817-5049
[email protected]

CPD Internal Affairs Unit releases 2017 annual Internal Affairs Report

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

The Columbia Police Department has finalized our 2017 year-end report from the Internal Affairs Unit; this report is available below and on our website at www.CoMo.gov/Police. Internal Affairs Sergeant Brian Tate will be available from 1:00-1:45 p.m. today for on-camera interviews related to this report. Please contact the Communications Office at [email protected] if you wish to interview him.

During 2017, Columbia Police officers were dispatched to 73,849 calls for service in the City of Columbia.  In addition, officers self-initiated an additional 73,811 calls/incidents, for a total of 147,660 calls/incidents, for a 2.1% decrease from 2016 (150,874 total calls in 2016).  In the same time period CPD officers made 5,680 arrests, for a 17.4% increase from 2016 (4,836 arrests). Of the 147,660 calls/incidents, 3.8% resulted in an arrest.

  • Citizen contacts: 147,660
  • Arrests:             5,680

Sworn personnel of the Columbia Police Department follow strict guidelines and policy in regards to responding to resistance.  These guidelines and policies are based upon best practice and case law.  Officers are required to use only the response to resistance that reasonably appears necessary when overcoming resistance, given the facts and circumstances at the time of the event.  During 2017, officers used the following actions to overcome resistance.

  • Joint Manipulation
  • Kinetic Energy Impact Device
  • Strikes
  • Pepper Spray
  • Handcuffing
  • Pressure Point Technique
  • Other Physical Force
  • Balance Displacement
  • Taser Deploy/Drive Stun
  • Taser Laser/Arc Display
  • Drawing/Exhibit Firearm
  • Firearm Discharge at Person
  • Armored Personnel Carrier
  • Canine Display
  • Canine Bite
  • Impact Weapon Other

Officers overcame resistance in 319 incidents (0.21% of all citizen contacts) during 2017. 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 5.6% of arrests. The following details the total number of techniques used by officers during the 319 incidents that resulted in responses to resistance:

  • Officers used joint manipulation on 70 occasions.
  • Officers used a Kinetic Energy Impact Device on 1 occasion. (i.e Less Lethal Shotgun)
  • Officers used strikes on 17 occasions.
  • Officers used pepper spray on 18 occasions.
  • Officers used canine bites on 3 occasions.
  • Officers handcuffed subjects on 157 occasions (without resulting in a formal arrest).
  • Officers used "Impact Weapon Other" on 2 occasions. (i.e. Baton/Asp)
  • Officers used a Taser® on 57 occasions.
    • 22 Taser® Deployment/Drive Stun
    • 28 Laser Display/Arc Display/Exhibit Taser®
  • Officers used pressure point techniques on 8 occasions.
  • Officers used other physical force 44 occasions.
  • Officers used balance displacement on 107 occasions.
  • Officers drew/exhibited their firearms on 166 occasions.
  • Officers fired their weapon in defense of self or others on 3 occasions
  • Officers displayed a K9 as a show of force on 3 occasions
  • Officers used the Armored Personnel Carrier on 10 occasions

In 2017, 0 (zero) of the above incidents have been found to be "Improper."  (3 are still pending IA Investigation)

Of the 147,660 citizen contacts, the Columbia Police Department received 52 complaints (0.03% 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 neither 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 52 complaints, the following findings were made:

  • Unfounded        25       
  • Exonerated       15       
  • Sustained          5         
  • Not Sustained    2
  • Withdrawn         4
  • Withdrawn-BWC 1

The Top three External complaints in 2017 are as follows:

  • (Policy 322.2) All seizures by this department will comply with relevant federal and state law.
  • (Policy 600.2) Take any appropriate law enforcement action/Initial Investigations.
  • (Policy 300.3) Response to Resistance to effect an arrest-"Use of Force"

In addition the Columbia Police Department initiated 51 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. Of the 51 investigations, the following findings were made:

  • Unfounded        24
  • Exonerated        7                    
  • Sustained          3                                
  • Not Sustained    5        
  • Withdrawn         3
  • Withdrawn-BWC 1
  • Pending             1
  • No Misconduct Alleged 7

The top three complaints in 2017 that did not meet the definition of a complaint as defined by Section 21-45 of City Ordinance are as follows:

  • (Policy 340.3.3) Discourteous, disrespectful or discriminatory treatment.
  • (Policy 600.2) Take any appropriate law enforcement action/Initial Investigations.
  • (Policy 340.3.3 subsection(2)) Any act on or off duty which brings discredit to the Department.

In the same reporting period, 2017, officers of the Columbia Police Department received 92 compliments from members of the public.

In 2017, the Columbia Police Department initiated 36 internal complaints of misconduct.  Of the 36 internal complaints, the following findings were made:

  • Unfounded        2         
  • Exonerated       1         
  • Sustained         24       
  • Not Sustained   2                     
  • Pending            7

The top three internally generated complaints in 2017 are as follows:

  • (Policy 314.3) Vehicle Pursuit, Officer Responsibilities: exceeded the posted speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour
  • (Policy 340.2.1) Lawful Orders/Insubordination
  • (Policy 600.2) Initial Investigations/ Take any appropriate law enforcement action

[1] City of Columbia Ordinance Sec. 21-45. - Definitions. Complaint means a written statement alleging misconduct of a police officer or community service aide involving interaction with the public.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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