The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

COLUMBIA, MO. -- Updated: Tuesday, March 6 at 11:15 a.m.

Columbia City Manager Mike Matthes released a consultant’s report on his police department on Tuesday morning.

If it was a report card, Matthes said Columbia Police would have a grade of “D”.

Matthes said the report is a wake up call for the department’s senior staff.

The $45,000 report found the community’s satisfaction with the Columbia Police Department has been dropping for years. In 2005, about 800 people surveyed gave the department a satisfactory rating of 81%.  That number has dropped to 69% today.  There are 14 recommendations in the consultant’s report, ranging from reviewing the police chief and his senior command staff to implementing continual extensive training.  Matthes said he will implement all 14 recommendations over the coming month.

Matthes said, “Pay, for all above sergeant, has been adjusted leaving many sergeants and officers resentful.  The new promotional process is generally viewed with suspicion.  Rules and regulations are less clear and confusing.  The police headquarters continues to be inadequate for its purpose.  Training has been reduced to the state minimum.”

The report said police department morale is extraordinarily low and the supervisory culture is approaching toxicity.  Police Chief Ken Burton takes full responsibility for his department’s problems.

Burton said, “Looking internally, I take responsibility for being too participative and maybe not demanding enough.  I’m looking internally.  I will make the changes necessary to make this a success.”

Matthes said a number of high profile failures over the last decade have tarnished the reputation of the Columbia Police Department and brought dishonor to the badge.  He is planning a department wide overhaul to meet the report’s 14 recommendations.

Original Story:

Columbia’s City Manager, Mike Matthes released a consultant’s report on the police department Tuesday morning.

Matthes hired consultant, Eric Anderson, in response to the community’s dissatisfaction with the police department.

The report found in 2005, 81% of community members were satisfied and in 2007, 77% were satisfied, but now, only 69% are satisfied.

In 2006 the University of Missouri conducted a study of the department and provided recommendations, but Anderson says the department has only gotten worse since.

In the report Anderson criticizes the department and says “the supervisory culture is approaching toxicity.”

He notes there is a resentful nature within the department and says communication is lacking.

Overall, Anderson says “morale of the department is extraordinarily low” and says “the general attitude of most officers is characterized, by themselves, retirees, and others, as fearful, hesitant and uncertain.”

There are 14 recommendations in the report, ranging from reviewing the Police Chief and his senior command staff to implementing continual extensive training.

Matthes says he “views this report as a wake up call for the senior staff of the police department.”