Columbia Officials Roll out New Initiatives

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C., — ” you don’t build community trust in one press conference. you don’t do it in one community meeting. it has to be an ongoing, sustained meaningful efforts.” And the city is ready to take charge by putting some of those efforts to work. The ongoing unrest in Ferguson, Missouri led city officials to hold this forum back in October garnering an open discussion and feedback from the community. now on the heels of yet another police involved death in Staten Island, City officials say it’s time to stop talking and put actions in place. ” We’re going to push for additional training which will be a mandatory requirement for all sworn officers. this will include sensitivity training, continuing strong community policing, peaceful conflict resolution.” but that’s only the beginning. columbia will soon be the first city in the 5th circuit to begin recording all violent criminal interrogations. Big brother won’t only be limited to the interrogation room either. These body cameras ABC Columbia news first told you about in October will also be implemented. A tool Chief Holbrook says will help increase department accountability and transparency in the field. ” it’s a way of putting everything we do out there for everyone to understand the plight of the officer and what we’re trying to do in order to be a world class professional police department.” One major concern however are staffing challenges. chief holbrook says they want to focus on recruiting a more diverse group of officers to match the cities demographics. with 67 percent white male and female officers to 29 percent of black male and female officers. while it’s higher than the national average chief holbrook says it does not match the cities demographics. ” we have a good foundation to build on and i know we can do better.” Some of the changes spurred by national incidents can be used as a teaching moment the mayor says we saw for ourselves along broad river road – just days after this local Ferguson forum. Proving these incidents are not immune to the capitol city – but with safeguards may be less likely. ” it’s become crystal clear these are issues that are not unique to the communities we are seeing on tv every night. they’re very real across the country.”