Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) president Matt Nichols says his officers don’t feel appreciated and don’t feel valued. Columbia’s city council voted this week to approve a resolution allocating $25-million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. The CPOA is not happy because the council has not allocated any 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. The CPOA says these city employees risked their safety and health for everyone in Columbia, adding that the hazard incentive would have demonstrated that the community recognizes their ongoing sacrifice. CPOA president Nichols also blasted the defund the police movement, telling listeners that “there’s a lot of money in hating the police”:
(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) represents southern and southeast Missouri on Capitol Hill. He chairs the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, and tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the committee plans to hold a Missouri field hearing in the future. It’s unclear where that hearing will take place. Congressman Smith also blasted the “defund the police” movement, saying that the number of police officers shot in the line of duty has increased by 57 percent since 2020. Congressman Smith notes Bonne Terre officer Lane Burns was shot and killed in the line of duty last year. Congressman Smith also tells listeners he hopes to get U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) to Columbia or Jefferson City:
(AUDIO): U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) appears on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) represents southern and southeast Missouri on Capitol Hill. He chairs the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, and tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the committee plans to hold a Missouri field hearing in the future. It’s unclear where that hearing will take place. Congressman Smith also blasted the “defund the police” movement, saying that the number of police officers shot in the line of duty has increased by 57 percent since 2020. Congressman Smith notes Bonne Terre officer Lane Burns was shot and killed in the line of duty last year. Congressman Smith also tells listeners he hopes to get U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) to Columbia or Jefferson City:
Missouri’s Blunt: CPD and several departments short of officers
Missouri’s senior senator says the Capitol Police in Washington D.C. are 200 officers below their authorized level, and that 135 Capitol Police officers have retired last year. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) co-chairs the Senate Law Enforcement caucus. “But I think this problem is clearly a lot bigger than the Capitol Police, starting with defund …