<div style="margin-top: 20px;"><img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/citylogo-police.png" alt="City of Columbia Missouri Police Department" width="175" height="101" style="margin-right: 5px;">
<img src="https://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/policelogo.png" alt="Police Department" width="98" height="121" style="float: right; margin-right: 0px; margin-left:20px;">
<div style="padding-top:40px;
text-align:center;">
<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
<br />
Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
</div>
<div style="clear:both; text-align:center; padding-top: 20px;">
<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">November 6, 2020</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Brittany Hilderbrand
<br />Community Relations Specialist/Public Information Officer
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7671
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Toni Messina
<br />Communications and Outreach Supervisor
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7660
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
</div>
<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Correction: Columbia Police reduce in-person contacts as local coronavirus cases climb, effective Nov. 7</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <strong><strong>Correction: The P2C website link has been updated to a new URL link. We apologize for any inconvenience.<br /><br /></strong></strong>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Due to the resurgence of risk for potential exposure to COVID-19, Columbia police are reducing the amount of in-person responses to calls, effective Nov. 7. Activities that may be suspended during this period will primarily affect traffic functions, in-person contact reports and accessibility to the police station. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The police station entrance at 600 E. Walnut St. will be the only entrance open to the public until further notice. Staff members will temporarily stop taking reports in the lobby. Citizens may report online by visiting <a href="https://columbiapolice.policetocitizen.com/Home">columbiapolice.policetocitizen.com/</a></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> or by dialing 311 for non-emergencies or 911 for emergencies. Access to the CPD lobby is limited to emergencies only.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"For the safety of our officers, all calls for service are reviewed by a supervisor who will advise whether or not to respond in-person," Chief Geoff Jones said. "Calls for service can be sorted into two categories: life threatening and non-life-threatening."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Examples of calls for life-threatening incidents include:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Domestic violence;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missing persons;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Active assaults (robbery, stabbing, fights);</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reports of sexual assault; and</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Child abuse and neglect.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Examples of calls for non-life-threatening incidents include: </span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Peace disturbances; </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Past theft of motor vehicles;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Car accidents without injuries;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vandalism/found property; and</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traffic complaints.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Officers responding to calls are required to wear protective gear and take other precautions. "This is absolutely necessary for the safety of officers and the public," Jones said. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When responding to a call and making an arrest, an officer will:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Place a mask on the arrested person as soon as possible;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Determine if the suspect needs immediate hospitalization due to respiratory distress or other symptoms;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use a single vehicle for all prisoner transports to minimize decontamination needs for the patrol fleet;</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Disinfect all surfaces an arrested person may have touched or otherwise infected through coughing, sneezing, spitting, etc.; and</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maintain communications with jail personnel regarding symptoms that may develop after an arrested person is released to their custody.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Programs that have temporarily ceased operation include ride-alongs with officers, school visits and citizen tours of CPD facilities.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I am grateful for the community’s patience as we navigate these current elevated case numbers," Jones said. "All of us at CPD look forward to the time when we can resume our normal relationships with the public."</span></p>
<strong><br /></strong><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="content"></div>
<br />
<div class="attachments"></div>
</div>
<div id="footerline">
<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
</div>
<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
</div>
<style>
#pressrelease{ margin:20px; margin-top: 0px;}
.attachments{margin-top: -10px;}
@media print {
body {font-size: 90%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;}
#pressrelease{ margin: 0px; }
}
</style><p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of Columbia's Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Archived press releases can be viewed online at:
http://www.como.gov/CMS/pressreleases/directory.php</p>
<p>______________________________________________________</p>
<p>If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and follow the instructions provided at http://www.como.gov/Web_Mail/ </p><style>div{margin: 10px;}</style>