Columbus Police Department is preparing to give businesses a leg up against crime, while connecting with the community in a new way.
Chief Joseph Daughtry told The Dispatch the department recently started a new Community Service Division, which will be hosting its first Business Watch Initiative meeting in the Municipal Complex at 6 p.m. Monday, for business owners to gather and learn about crime prevention.
“We encourage all business owners to participate in this important discussion,” Daughtry said in a Wednesday press release. “By working together, we can create a safer community for everyone and protect our local businesses from crime.”
Monday’s meeting will be the first in a series of Business Watch Initiative meetings, Daughtry said, educating owners and managers on how to keep their businesses safe. The first meeting will include information on cameras, alarm systems, and other physical safety measures.
In July, 10 businesses in the city told The Dispatch they had experienced issues with burglaries this year. Daughtry said issues around business break-ins have tapered down since the department made some arrests. But he still hopes to educate the public on crime prevention and to offer reminders to business owners on maintaining safety measures.
“Some of the businesses that were broken into, they had alarm systems, but they just didn’t arm them,” Daughtry said. “Some of them had them armed, and they just didn’t trip until we went in. And it shows that they were (faulty). Just little things like that, that they need to test their alarm … system.”
Daughtry said Monday’s meeting will also include information on other safety measures businesses can take, along with financial losses that come with a break-in. At the end of the meeting, he said, business owners and managers will have the chance to talk with him and other police officers about any questions or concerns they may have.
Daughtry said that he has been planning to establish programs like this since he took the role of chief in 2022. But with the new Community Service Division, and Community Liaison Glenda Richardson now on board, the department now has the resources to put that plan into action.
While Monday’s meeting will be informative, Richardson said, it will also build bridges between the police department and local businesses. Those connections will be helpful to the department, she said, but also could help the business owners know what help police can offer in different situations.
“Sometimes, there’s a misconception as to what the police department can do, and what they cannot do,” Richardson said. “So, (Daughtry is) just really wanting to open it up to let them know who to contact, and that the police department is available to business owners.”
Daughtry said he hopes to continue expanding the new Community Service Division to include a Quality of Life officer and other programs that will build connections with the community. Once the Business Watch program is underway, Apartment Watch, Neighborhood Watch and Church Watch programs should follow, he said.
Business owners who are interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP by Thursday to Richardson at [email protected] or to call (662) 364-1850.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
