After appeals and much debate from five community members Wednesday night, the Citizens Police Review Board decided to endorse CPD’s policy of encouraging police officers to wear their uniforms during off-duty assignments, no matter where that assignment may take place.
The appeal came from two female members of 40 Days for Life, an anti-abortion rights campaign group, after they were given a warning for handing out literature too close to the entrance of Columbia’s Planned Parenthood by an off-duty police officer in CPD uniform.
The women asked the board to review the police department’s policy on outside employment, specifically where it says officers can wear their uniforms while both on- and off-duty.
“Planned Parenthood is paying the police officers to enforce the law,” said Daniel Booth, a lawyer representing the two women. “But we also have a heated debate and (CPD) is appearing to take a side by accepting money from Planned Parenthood.”
Members of 40 Days for Life asked the board to make an exception when it comes to Planned Parenthood, having them wear “Planned Parenthood Security” uniforms instead of the CPD uniform. Booth said this would show citizens that CPD is on the side of Planned Parenthood.
“Any action taken that the officer takes is not just an action taken,” Booth said. “It is representing the entire city, and many members of the Columbia community do not approve the services Planned Parenthood provides.”
The board decided to endorse the current policy put in place by CPD, saying there should not be an exception, especially in a place where public safety could be in jeopardy.
“The government has to make a policy that applies everywhere,” board member Mitch Richards said. “We can’t make an exception for somewhere we believe could have a safety risk involved.”
Diane Booth, who was executive director of Planned Parenthood of Central Missouri from 1987-1994, spoke at the meeting to express the concerns Planned Parenthood faces and why they decided to hire off-duty police officers.
“People who go into Planned Parenthood receive daily harassment from people on the curb,” Booth said. “When we hire an off-duty officer, we are trying to protect people who are receiving legal healthcare and legal procedures.”
Board member Roger Dowis said the policy doesn’t just protect those related to Planned Parenthood. The board agreed that this policy refers to any group who hires an off-duty officer.
“It’s a matter of how we can protect the people on the sidewalk and the people inside Planned Parenthood,” Dowis said. “The city is tasked with keeping the citizens and the police safe.”
