Several police officers cited poor leadership at the city and police department as reasons for low morale in surveys conducted by City Manager Mike Matthes.
The responses to the survey, which was conducted in 2016, were released Wednesday after the city fought a public records request. While the tenor of the responses is downbeat and critical, the head of the police officers’ union said it’s hard to know if current officers feel the same way as the Columbia Police Department has faced high turnover.
However, at least four of those who responded to Matthes’ survey still work at the department, said Dale Roberts, the executive director of the Columbia Police Officers’ Association.
Roberts said, so far, the responses to Matthes’ survey have been consistent with his own survey.
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