Columbia City Council approves in-house NIBN technology, mayor says system will lead to prosecuting criminals quicker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council unanimously approved the purchase of gun identification technology during Monday night’s meeting.

The Columbia Police Department requested $208,934 from the asset forfeiture fund to purchase the technology that they say will help police be more effective in solving violent crimes in the city.

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network is an evidence system that would help police link a shell casing to the gun it was fired from. Assistant Chief Lance Bolinger previously told ABC 17 News the system could speed up investigations by months since the system would be in-house and evidence would not have to be sent off.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe says the new piece of technology purchased will help send a message to criminals.

“As Columbia grows you know, we’re seeing these sort of like growing pains happening to us,” Buffaloe said. “What this will allow us to do is to have those tools and resources that allow us to as we grow as a community, let those who want to practice criminal activity know that we have the resources to enforce the law and we’ll do it quickly.”

Buffaloe said crime that occurs within Columbia isn’t something that goes unnoticed by her. She said the city is monitoring the issue and she has trust in the police department to ask for what is needed in order to help bring the numbers down.

Buffaloe said while the purchase of the technology would help police with their investigations, there are always multiple solutions to a problem.

In order to address crime within the city, Buffaloe said she thinks it will take having the correct amount of officers available as well as having the proper tools and resources readily available.

“I think it’s important to know that like obviously no crime is acceptable,” Buffaloe said. “Like there’s no level of crime that is ideal and we want to see it reduced, which is why we’re having resources and votes like this coming forward so that we can have it go down.”

The council is also set to discuss more than $600,000 in planned upgrades at Oakland Park. That would include a new playground, pickleball court and renovations to two shelters. The project will be paid for by the 2021 sales tax. If approved, construction would begin this winter and be completed by Spring 2026.