Columbia Residents Split on Increased Police Presence Downtown
Following the September shooting that killed Stephens College student Aiyanna Williams, the City of Columbia increased its police presence downtown.
The increased police presence is part of a broader effort to improve safety in the area, which also includes the creation of a student advisory council announced by Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and the implementation of rideshare drop-off locations to streamline weekend traffic.
On Saturday night, a larger crowd was observed downtown compared to the previous week, with police and Boone County Sheriff's deputies still visibly present, although with fewer patrols than during the initial rollout.
Author's summary: Columbia residents have mixed opinions on increased police presence downtown.