Close to 10 community members spoke to the Columbia City Council regarding race issues and community policing within the Columbia Police Department at Monday night’s council meeting.
Columbia resident Renee Maxwell said during the public comment period that Sgt. Robert Fox does not seem interested in community policing.
“I can tell you there is a general consensus among attendees that Sgt. Fox seems disinterested towards this initiative,” Maxwell said. “He doesn’t even pretend to have an interest in other models of community policing. He seems to have a single objective to convince people that community policing is not possible unless we give the police more money.”
She said she doesn’t blame Fox for this attitude. She blames City Manager Mike Matthes for the tone he has set. She also said city leadership is important for community policing to succeed.
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