City of Columbia, Missouri
Meeting Minutes
City Council
Conference Room
1A/1B
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
5:00 PM
Pre-Council
Columbia City Hall
701 E. Broadway
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Buffaloe called the meeting to order at approximately 5:00pm.
7 - Peters, Skala, PItzer, Fowler, Waner, Buffaloe, and Foster
Present:
Police Update / Vehicle Stop Data
Attachments: 2021 Vehicle Stops Report presentation
Mayor Buffaloe introduced the agenda “Police Update/Vehicle Stop Data” and welcomed
staff to give a detailed report.
Chief Geoffrey Jones introduced staff and gave a detailed Powerpoint presentation on the
“Police Update/Vehicle Stop Data” agenda.
Chief Jones explained that at the start of COVID19 pandemic he issued a general order
instructing staff to assess traffic and moving violations and investigative staff to articulate
and make sure that actual information on intelligence was present. The pandemic limited
close conduct between officers and public involved as officers try to limit the spread of the
virus but offer the services.
Chief Jones explained that when he lifted the order a year later, he issued written
expectations designed for city employees. Each employee and supervisor signed a
document indicating their understanding of these expectations.
Chief Jones further explained that training on cultural competence is the area that his
office has continued to focus on. Each officer have been receiving training on customer
service, community policing, racial profiling. All the titles of training have changed over the
years - to include: racial profiling, fair and partial policing, and occurrence of implicit bias.
Chief Jones explained that his office continues to train officers to adapt to prepare them
for the changing environment.
The department currently conducts a three-hour training for employee, community
services and for new hire and on-boarding process approved by the Missouri forces
standards and training. All training emphasizes community-based polling and biases in
decision making. The department will contact more sessions this year as they were not
conducted during the earlier sessions. The department also added a position within its
internal affairs unit to address cultural competency internally and in the community
(Diversity Equity and Inclusion - DEI). This position serves as the catalyst to leverage
best practices and promoting cultural inclusion where individuals from all racial and ethnic
identities, ages, nationalities, social and economic status, sexual orientation and gender
identity, religious, political, and ideological perspectives, are able to thrive and be
engaged. The office also examines and audits the policy to an equity lens to ensure they
are promoting equity and a fair environment for all.