Columbus police chief showcases 12-page plan to City Council
In a packed council chamber this morning, Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon showcased his 12-page strategic plan to the city council.
City Council members voted on February 14, 2023, to give Chief Blackmon 30 days to come up with a strategic plan for the department he leads after Jensen Hughes gave him and the department 70 recommendations toward fixing the problems inside the agency.
In those 30 days, two mass shootings occurred, a Columbus Police Officer took their own life, and a total of 28 people were shot, with 11 out of the 28 dying. Blackmon addressed the media a day after one mass shooting injured 9 kids, saying the city was safe.
Today, March 14, 2023, Blackmon showed up with his twelve-page plan, with key ideas of personnel, operations, training, and community engagement.
The introduction to the plan began with: “The Columbus Police Department FY2023‐FY2026 Strategic Plan was developed in 2023 to guide decision‐making for the following three years. The plan identifies departmental and community priorities, established S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, manageable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound), action items to achieve the goals, and assigned persons in the organization responsible for implementation. The goals and action items were created based on the 10 Strategic Directions that form the foundation of the plan.”
First, Blackmon showed personnel. In the plan, the following is said about personnel.
Supplement Pay for Sworn Officers to Increase from $5,121 to $10,121 starting April 2023.
Add $5,121 Supplement Pay for Civilian 911 Personnel starting July 2023.
Add Civilian 911 to Public Safety Pension Plan starting July 2023.
Reorganization of Retention Committee which started in February of 2023.
Revise Retirement for Sworn Officers: 20 Years of Service – 60%, 25 Years of Service – 70%, 30 Years of Service – 80% starting July 2023.
$150 Supplement Pay for Sworn AL Residents starting July 2023.
100% Tuition Reimbursement starting July 2023.
Child Care Benefits at No Cost to the Employee starting July 2023.
Lateral Police Officer with Active GA P.O.S.T. Certification Sign-on Ronus of $8.000 starting April 2023.
Increase Job Fair Attendance to at Least 40 a year, which started in January of 2023.
Visit High Schools to Discuss Cadet Programs/911 Careers which started in January of 2022.
Purchase “Interview Now” Software starting July 2023. Current Sworn Personnel = 299
Currently at the department, there is only 299 sworn personnel, and only 145 sworn vacancies. There are currently 97 civilian personnel, and only 41 vacancies. in July 2023, the department wants to add 59 Additional Civilian Personnel to total 197, as well as add 84 additional sworn personnel to total 572.
In the plan, the following is said about operations.
Reorganize the Bureau of Investigations (BIS) (February 2023 – March 2023)
Address Transferring of Gang Analysts to BIS (February 2023 – February 2026)
Add Civilians to Crime Scene Unit, Digital Forensic Unit, Real Time Crime Center (July 2023)
Update Computer Aid Dispatch (CAD) and Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) to Allow Sharing of Images to Officers in the Field (January 2021 – March 2024)
Procure Operators License Scanner Technology for Patrol Services (January 2021 – March 2024)
Develop Radio Network Interoperability with State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies (February 2022 – March 2023)
In the plan, the following is said about training.
Continue Supervisory and Management Training at State and Federal Level (January 2021 – Ongoing)
Develop Internal Training for Current and New Supervisors (July 2023 – Ongoing)
Review Training Division Instructor Require ments (January 2020 – Ongoing)
Develop Junior Leadership Training (February 2023 – July 2023)
In the plan, the following is said about community engagement.
Develop a Written, Comprehensive Community Policing Plan (June 2023)
Ensure Personnel From All Divisions Attend at Least One Community Meeting Per Quarter (June 2023)
Continue Strengthening and Establishing Relationships with Entities External to CPD (Ongoing)
Utilize CPD’s Social Platforms to Provide the Community Information When Significant and High-Profile Public Safety Issues Arise (Ongoing)
After Chief Blackmon presented, a large applause was given and Mayor Skip Henderson said “thank you!”, as Blackmon took a sip of water. City council was very appreciative of the new plan it seemed.
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