February 7, 2020
Issues Forum Summary – February 2020
February 2020: Community Safety Update
Guest Speakers: Chief Skip Holbrook, Columbia Police Department and Sheriff Leon Lott, Richland County Sheriff’s Department
Moderator: Andy Shain, Post and Courier
Summary:
The Chamber’s February Issues Forum featured Chief Holbrook and Sheriff Lott discussing the current state of safety in Columbia and Richland County.
The reoccurring themes were:
- partnership and community policing
- removing illegal guns from the street
- citizens need to always lock their cars and take their concealed weapons inside
- businesses should always speak directly with law enforcement about safety in their area before making a decision regarding relocation or expansion
- if you see something say something
- the homeless issue in Columbia continuously needs to be addressed
- programs like DARE and School Resource Officers are making a difference in public schools and safety is everyone’s responsibility
Throughout the year, you can expect the Columbia Chamber to:
- Continue to foster discussions that help businesses understand the safety statistics and their impact on the business community.
- Support meaningful ordinances, laws that remove illegal guns from the street and that address repeat offenders. The certainty and severity of the punishment should be carefully considered and consistent.
- Continue to a champion for safety in the community and support for law enforcement.