Positive Connections, Outreach, Training and Ride Alongs
Doug Hunt talked about homeless outreach team in the evenings at Wilkes Boulevard
church. He felt that it was having a quieting effect there. Doug Hunt saw officers
intervene very usefully in a domestic dispute that the officers calmed down. Doug Hunt
also said that Officer Moesel did a similar good job in intervening in a domestic dispute
and worked diligently to resolve the dispute.
Reece Ellis reported via email that he attended a community conversation hosted by the
Commission on Human Rights on March 9, 2024. It was at the Public Library in the
Friends room and had fairly good attendance with a mix of people from the community.
D'eAndre Thompson served as the moderator for the discussion which centered around
how people were experiencing or witnessing discrimination in our community. There was
a big focus on things that perhaps are not intentionally discriminatory at least on
their face, but present real barriers to access for all different kinds of communities. It
included conversation about sidewalks and folks in the disability community, talk of
public transportation and making Columbia more accessible to people who can not afford
to or choose not to own a car, and the locations of voting centers. Most of the
conversation kept coming back to how we can do better at making sure the people who
are topics of policy conversations, especially people in minority or marginalized
communities, are aware that they can participate in these conversations with civic
leaders at these forums; and are having their perspectives meaningfully included
instead of represented second hand by advocates. Reece Ellis reported that all were
worthwhile conversations and that he was glad to have been informed of the event by the
community members who attend our meetings.
VIII. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF
Doug Hunt announced the time limits for individuals and groups.
Members of the public commented.
Dr. Mehrdad Fotoohighiam commented and handed out a letter to the Board.
Chriss Jones spoke on behalf of Hold CoMo accountable and commented about the
Human Rights Commission event and encouraged the Board to do a listening session at
the library. Chriss Jones mentioned the board’s discussion related to focusing on
community complaints, rather than officer complaints. Chriss Jones encouraged the
Board to also look at officer complaints. Chriss Jones emphasized that the community
needs the Board and that complainants need to feel that they are heard.
IX. MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION
Jamie Thornsberry made a motion to go into closed session to discuss records which are
protected from disclosure by law, Sections 610.021(14) and 590.502 RSMo. Steven
Jeffrey seconded the motion.
Denise Balazic, Stephanie Coleman, Douglas Hunt, Steven Jeffrey, Xavier Lee Scruggs,
and Jamie Thornsberry voted in favor of the motion. No one voted against the motion. No
one abstained. The motion passed.
The open session of the meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m. The Board adjourned to room 2A
for closed session. The closed session ended at: 8:04 p.m.
X. NEXT MEETING DATE
Next Regular Meeting April 10, 2024
XI. ADJOURNMENT