COLUMBIA — The City of Columbia and the Columbia police department have made it clear that safety is a top priority following the Sept. 27 fatal shooting in downtown Columbia.
Police Chief Jill Schlude stated during Monday night’s City Council meeting that 27 additional law enforcement officers were present in the downtown area on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4.
Columbia business owners noticed the additional police presence.
Some local business owners said they have been advocating for better policing after dark.
Jim Yankee, founder of Flat Branch Bank, has been a prominent voice asking for a safer downtown.
Yankee is worried that the additional measures may not be set in stone.
“I think as soon as they take their eye off, unless something serious is done to change downtown,” Yankee said, “change our focus, I think it’s going to fall back.”
Yankee expressed hope that the city will make long-standing changes.
“Hopefully they can keep that commitment,” said Yankee.
Erica Pefferman, a board member of the Downtown Community Improvement District (CID), said the problem has to be worked through together.
“If the lack of safety or perceived safety is hurting businesses downtown, then it becomes an issue that the CID has to be a partner in fixing,” said Pefferman.
Business owners who have been advocating for change in downtown Columbia stressed that changes were needed even before the Sept. 27 shooting.
Nick McKague, a local downtown business owner, made clear that the shooting may be a catalyst for change, but should not be the only reason.
“I think my message would be that we have to remember that we’re dealing with people’s lives and we’re dealing with family members who have lost loved ones,” said McKague.