The Columbia Police Department is currently 41 officers short, according to CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter. Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) president Matt Nichols is concerned about that number and about staffing levels. Mr. Nichols joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning, telling listeners that one detective left the department because of the way the community is leaning. Mr. Nichols and CPOA are also disappointed because Columbia’s city council has not allocated any federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars as premium/hazard pay for law enforcement officers and other essential workers who were unable to work from home during the COVID pandemic. Mr. Nichols tells listeners that one-time money would help retain Columbia Police officers, as well as bus drivers and garbage collectors. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe has noted Columbia’s city council approved a fiscal year 2024 budget in September that saw an across-the-board increase in pay, and an increase in starting salary for police officers. While Mr. Nichols acknowledges those two points, he says inflation has eaten a lot of that raise:
Columbia’s new police chief is sworn-in; recruitment remains a top priority
Columbia’s first female police chief has been sworn-in.
Jill Schlude, who had been serving as CPD’s assistant chief, was sworn-in during Monday night’s city council meeting. She’s been with the department since 2005. Her top priority is answering 911 calls, and she wants to see a recruitment and retention plan in place in the next 90 days.
Columbia Police are currently more than 40 officers short, according to CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter.
18 candidates applied for the position, and city manager De’Carlon Seewood chose Schlude. Mr. Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that she shined during the interview process. Former Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones retired in August, after serving as chief since 2019. Matt Stephens served as the interim chief.
(AUDIO): Murder charges filed against four additional Columbia Dove drive suspects
Columbia Police need your assistance in locating four additional suspects in last Monday’s drive-by shooting and homicide on Dove drive.
CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter provided a Wednesday afternoon update on the Columbia Police Department’s Facebook page.
“Columbia Police are actively searching for Alqueze Jones, 19 years of age, Deljuan Turner, 19 years of age, Ja’shaun Barney, 18 years of age, and Deazes Turner, 21 years of age,” Mr. Hunter says in a CPD Facebook post.
Boone County prosecutors have filed second degree murder charges against the four.
“They are wanted in connection to the murder of Deshon Joseph Houston which occurred on June 26 in the 3200 block of Dove drive. Community members should not approach these individuals as they are considered armed and dangerous,” says Hunter.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is urged to call Columbia Crimestoppers at (573) 875-TIPS. Boone County prosecutors have also filed second degree murder charges against three other suspects for the death of 33-year-old Deshon Joseph Houston, who was found lying in his driveway. Houston was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to CPD’s probable cause statement. Court documents indicate multiple shooters fired at Houston from a Ford Explorer, while a separate gunman fired from an Acura’s sunroof.
Columbia homicide suspect who barricaded himself at Forest Village had lengthy criminal history
(Story updated to include the exact dates of incarceration for Burnett)
The Columbia Highlands homicide suspect who apparently shot and killed himself during a long standoff Tuesday night had served two stints in prison.
939 the Eagle News has reviewed 32-year-old Jermaine Montez Burnett’s record on the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) website. Burnett first entered prison at the age of 19 in 2009 and served time at the maximum-security Potosi and Jefferson City Correctional Centers for crimes like second degree robbery, felonious restraint, tampering with a victim. Burnett also had prior convictions for violating orders of protection and receiving stolen property.
Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann tells 939 the Eagle that Burnett was incarcerated from October 6, 2009 to December 24, 2012 and again from May 22, 2014 to December 5, 2022, when he was paroled from prison.
CPD investigators say Burnett died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, after barricading himself in the Forest Village apartments for hours. Our news partner KMIZ reports a nine-hour standoff ended Tuesday evening at about 9, when Burnett was found dead inside the Forest Village apartment complex. Assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter tells KMIZ that police used gas earlier on Tuesday to try to get Burnett out of apartment he barricaded himself in. Police say Burnett fired at them and that they returned fire.
Meantime, CPD has identified the woman shot and killed in Monday’s robbery in the Highlands as 72-year-old Janet Jago, who lived in the 5300 block of East Tayside Circle. Ms. Jago was married to Art Jago, a retired Mizzou professor.
UPDATE: CPD investigators: Highlands homicide suspect dead after self-inflicted gunshot wound
Columbia Police say the suspect in Monday’s robbery and homicide in the Highlands has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, after barricading himself in an apartment for hours.
That word from CPD assistant chief Jeremiah Hunter, who tells 939 the Eagle that the suspect is deceased.
Our news partner KMIZ reports a nine-hour standoff ended Tuesday evening at about 9, when suspect Jermaine Burnett was found dead inside the Forest Village apartment complex. Assistant chief Hunter tells KMIZ that Burnett was found dead after Boone County sheriff’s deputies entered the apartment building.
Police used gas earlier on Tuesday to try to get Burnett out of apartment he barricaded himself in. Police tell KMIZ that Burnett fired at them and that they returned fire.
Meantime, CPD has identified the woman shot and killed in Monday’s robbery in the Highlands as 72-year-old Janet Jago, who lived in the 5300 block of East Tayside Circle. Ms. Jago was married to Art Jago, a retired Mizzou professor.