The following message was sent to the University of Missouri campus community by Mun Choi Sept. 28, 2025
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,
For your awareness, on Saturday September 27th I sent a call to action to City and Boone County leaders. In my message, I communicated that the crime problem in downtown Columbia is at a crisis point. The shootings, burglary, larceny, property damage, trespassing, and loitering are unacceptable. While the efforts of MUPD and others at the University of Missouri have kept our campus safe, the proximity of downtown and the frequent presence of our students there make this an issue of great importance for me and the University.
The shooting incident early Saturday morning is just another example of the rampant crime problem that we are witnessing on a daily basis. Many community members and business leaders have shared these concerns with me and city leadership. It’s time to act.
Further action must be taken immediately. The Columbia Police Department (CPD) does an excellent job, and they need to be supported. But, the success of crime prevention will require honest examination of current policies and practices in the city and county that lead individuals to commit crimes in Columbia without fear of consequences. Immediate actions that need to be taken during this period of emergency include:
- More policing downtown – CPD needs the necessary resources and support,
- Hiring of more security officers,
- Elimination of policies and practices that attract criminals to the region,
- Passing of a loitering ordinance,
- Cleanup of homeless encampments,
- Prosecution to the full extent of the law for crimes,
- And many others.
I’ve asked our MUPD Chief Brian Weimer to place all available police resources to patrol downtown.
The long-term solution will also require the collective efforts of the entire city & county organizations working together with the university and the business community. In addition to the emergency actions that are described above, I’ve asked the mayor to establish a task force of city/county, university and business leaders to develop new policies and practices to improve public safety in downtown Columbia. I am ready to serve and bring the resources of the University of Missouri to bear. We cannot wait to have another tragic outcome to act.
Sincerely,
Mun Y. Choi
President, University of Missouri