Public safety addresses City Council about strategic sessions; City Manager reacts
A city council meeting of the Columbus Consolidated Government was underway this past Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
Public safety officials, including Chief of Police Freddie Blackmon, addressed the city council, the city’s mayor pro-tem, and city manager Isaiah Hugley.
Chief Blackmon started his speech with talking about the Year of 2021 through a law enforcement perspective from violent crime and “the great resignation” of officers. In 2021, Columbus had 73 homicides, and a total of 181 people shot, according to CNAW2NEWS.com data.
Chief Blackmon, officers, and command staff held a strategic session to resolve some of the issues they observed in 2021.
Here are the goals the department has established:
Crime Reduction Goals
Proactive Policing: Patrol High Crime Areas and work at arresting violent warrants and validated gang members who participate in crimes.
Community Policing: Community Engagement and Building Relationships.
During the crime reduction, operations to suppress crime was conducted by Columbus Police Department and Georgia State Patrol. The four operations this year has led to 234 arrests, 43 which were released on principle summons, 434 criminal charges, 94 felonies, 340 misdemeanors, 109 criminal arrest warrants served, and 110 contacts with firearms. 231 pills/708.10 grams ooh illegal drugs seized, which is a street value of $37,914.
“During these details, we went to hotspot locations and focused on gang members who were involved in illegal acts,” Blackmon added. “We were able to take drugs off the streets.”
The Special Operations Unit of the department went through a lot of challenges during these operations, the Chief of Police stated. Officers continue to work day and night fighting crime.
Officers with the department, along with assistance from the faith based community, also held three Funds For Guns Gun Buy Back Program. On April 6, 2022, 111 firearms were turned in. On May 25, 2022, 110 firearms were collected. On July 20, 2022, 110 firearms were collected. Total guns collected by police were 331. “To make our community safer, we need all hands on deck,” The Chief of Police said.
The community relations unit continues to work on programs and projects such as: Community Outreach, SALT, Partners in Education, Survey’s, Safety Patrol, CAD, GA Special Olympics, Explorers, DARE, Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch, Project Lifesaver, Handicapped Parking Enforcers, and CPD TOURS.
RECRUITMENT
Fill Vacant Police Officer Positions: Advertise Nationwide, Increase Sign On Bonus, Rebranding – new uniforms and new vehicles, and purchase updated state of the art equipment
The Recruiting Unit participated in 56 job fairs since January of this year. The Unit’s members traveled all the way to New York City to join John Jay College of Criminal Justice to attend a career fair.
The current police officer starting salary information is as follows:
High school or GED: $45,475.24
Associate’s Degree: $46,484.09
Bachelor’s Degree: $47,732.61
Master’s Degree: $48,981.13.
The department also holds cadet programs.
RETENTION
Implementation of New Pay Plan
Revised Beard Policy
Updated Uniforms
New Vehicles
Updated Technology
Revised Work Schedule
Create Positive Workplace Using Restorative Practices/Procedural Justice
The personnel turnover rate from 2016 to 2022 is as follows: Applications – 3,549, Hired – 331, Retired – 83, Resigned – 367, Terminated or Laid Off – 6, Deceased – 4, and Net Total -129.
The department is budgeted for 444 officers, currently there are only 299 officers active at the department. There is 141 vacant officer positions. The department is budgeted for 25 cadets, currently there are only 4 active cadets. There is 21 vacant cadet positions.
The Part – One crimes Comparison shows the following data:
“One murder is way too many,” the Chief added after showing the data.
After the speech by the Chief, city council spoke directly to the Chief and the public safety members which sat directly behind him. Several council members thanked the Chief and public safety.
Sheriff Greg Countryman also spoke to the city council as well.
Isaiah Hugley, the city manager, spoke to the public safety about violent crime. “Each leader of these public safety agencies have dealt with one of the most difficult times we’ve lived in – in my lifetime,” he began with his reply. “We’ve had some really challenging times but we just haven’t had challenging times in Columbus, Georgia, we have had challenging times across the country.”
Hugley then began referring to an article from a Birmingham news paper of what’s going on in Birmingham. “One excerpt from this article… says violent crime in Birmingham is skyrocketing, and it going one to say, no effective solution has been offered by city officials to curb the out of control and deadly violence. City residents have a greater chance of becoming the next murder victim than they do of getting a job,” Hugley added.
Hugley then said, “For those people who just think it’s Columbus, Georgia, that we’ve had some challenges, it is not. It is all over this nation. Hugley then states all top ten dangerous cities in the world. Columbus, Georgia was not on the top ten list.
“I don’t see Columbus, Georgia, listed on here ya know, so you have challenges but we are gonna get through this, ya know as we get out of the pandemic so I say, keep doing what you are doing and working at the things you shared,” Hugley said. “I am optimistic that we are on the right track and I think Columbus is one of the coolest…” Hugley then starts to refer to a recent article which states “this town in Georgia has been ranked as one of the coolest places in the United States.”
“Columbus, Georgia is a great place to live,” Hugley said.
Despite being the coolest place to live and with all the amazing opportunities, Columbus in 2021 saw 73 homicides and 181 people shot, in 2022, so far we have 40 homicides and 181 people shot, according to our data.
To View the city council meeting, click here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ho1z60vW4aY&feature=share
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