Public Safety Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2026-02-17
Time: 13:30

Columbia Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda
 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM
 City Hall • Mayor's Conference Room • 2nd floor
 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
 City Clerk’s Office: (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov

 The Honorable William Brennan, District III, Chair
 The Honorable Tina N. Herbert, District I • The Honorable Peter M. Brown, District IV


Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

1. June 25, 2025 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

Presentations

2. Place-Based Crime Reduction in the Millwood Ave Corridor - Mr. William "Skip"
 Holbrook, Police Chief

3. Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Update — Mr. Trevon Fordham,
 Ed.D., MSCJ, Director / Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE)

Adjournment




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Columbia Public Safety Committee Meeting Agenda
 Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 1:30 PM
 City Hall • Mayor's Conference Room • 2nd floor
 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
 City Clerk’s Office: (803)545-3045 or cityclerk@columbiasc.gov

 The Honorable William Brennan, District III, Chair
 The Honorable Tina N. Herbert, District I • The Honorable Peter M. Brown, District IV


Call to Order

Approval of Minutes

1. June 25, 2025 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes

Presentations

2. Place-Based Crime Reduction in the Millwood Ave Corridor - Mr. William "Skip"
 Holbrook, Police Chief

3. Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Update — Mr. Trevon Fordham,
 Ed.D., MSCJ, Director / Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE)

Adjournment




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 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025


CALL TO ORDER

The Public Safety Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at City
Hall (Mayor’s Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Second Floor, Columbia, South
Carolina 29201. The Honorable Will Brennan, Chair called the meeting to order at
11:13 a.m. and the following members were present:

Attendee Name Title Status
Will Brennan Chair Present
Tina N. Herbert Member Present
Peter M. Brown Member Present

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of June 25, 2024 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes –
 Approved

Upon a motion made by Mr. Brown and seconded by Ms. Herbert, the Committee
voted unanimously to approve the June 25, 2024 Public Safety Committee Meeting
Minutes.

PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATES

2. Columbia Police Department Briefing - Mr. William “Skip” Holbrook, Police Chief
 – Received as information

Mr. William “Skip” Holbrook, Police Chief reported increases in homicides and
aggravated assaults, attributing much of the latter to non-fatal shootings and
incidents involving the unsheltered population. He emphasized the connection
between public safety and environmental efforts like lot cleanups, lighting, and
property maintenance in underserved areas. The department has cleared 25
encampments and made over 190 arrests related to unsheltered individuals, along
with 240+ service contacts. A 15-year-old from Charlotte was linked to 150 car
break-ins. This illustrates how single offenders impact crime stats. He also stressed
how environmental control directly supports crime reduction.




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 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2025


Investigator Cannon Fulmer, Crime Analyst/Columbia Police Department shared that
serious violent crime is decreasing nationwide and emphasized the strength of
Columbia’s coordinated approach to addressing gun violence. He highlighted the work
of the Fatal and Non-Fatal Shooting Unit, which has achieved a 100% clearance rate
both last year and this year. The department’s focus on identifying violent blocks
rather than labeling entire neighborhoods is allowing for more targeted and effective
interventions.

There was discussion about a third-party contract for cleaning out homeless
encampments; working with the Sherriff’s department; maintaining levels of
reduction in crime; residents owning the amenities of their neighborhoods; data to
back up why churches should own property; and the deployment of officers for
support requests.

Councilor Brown left the meeting at 12:00 p.m.

Mr. William “Skip” Holbrook, Police Chief recognized Captain P.J. Blendowski and
Captain Jeffery Brink for their recent professional development achievements and
introduced the Columbia Police Department’s new summer marketing interns: Ms.
Kamari Parrish, Ms. Jewel James, Ms. Logan Davis, Ms. Tamia Devine, and Ms.
Morgan Perry.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC, CPM
City Clerk




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Meeting Date: February 17, 2026

Department: Columbia Police Department

From: Skip Holbrook, Police Chief


Place-Based Crime Reduction in the Millwood Ave Corridor - Mr. William "Skip"
Holbrook, Police Chief

Background Summary:

Attachments:
  None




02/06/2026 5:28 PM Page 1


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Meeting Date: February 17, 2026

Department: Office of the City Clerk

From: Trevon Fordham, Director


Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Update — Mr. Trevon Fordham,
Ed.D., MSCJ, Director / Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE)

Background Summary:

Attachments:
  None




02/13/2026 12:37 PM Page 1


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Columbia Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
 Tuesday, February 17, 2026


Call to Order
The Columbia Public Safety Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, February 17,
2026 at City Hall (Mayor's Conference Room), 1737 Main Street, Columbia, South
Carolina 29201. The Honorable Will Brennan, Chair called the meeting to order at 1:30
p.m. The Honorable Tina N. Herbert, Mayor Pro-Tempore and The Honorable Peter M.
Brown were present.

Approval of Minutes

1. June 25, 2025 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes
Upon a motion made by Ms. Herbert and seconded by Mr. Brown, the Committee voted
unanimously to approve the June 25, 2025 Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes.

Presentations

2. Place-Based Crime Reduction in the Millwood Avenue Corridor - Mr. William "Skip"
 Holbrook, Police Chief / Columbia Police Department


Mr. William “Skip” Holbrook, Chief / Columbia Police Department, introduced Captain
Jeff Brink, Southeast Region Commander; Investigator Cannon Fulmer, Crime Analyst;
and Dr. Hunter Boehme, Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University of South
Carolina. He highlighted Captain Brink’s participation in the Policing Leadership Program
at the University of Chicago. The team will present this evidence-based initiative at a
national symposium in May to share how the strategy can be replicated in other
communities.

Investigator Cannon Fulmer, Crime Analyst / Columbia Police Department presented
findings from a 90-day intervention in the Millwood Avenue corridor. He explained that
gun violence in Columbia is geographically concentrated, with about 40 percent of
shootings occurring within roughly three percent of the city’s area and often limited to
specific streets rather than entire neighborhoods. The intervention focused on these
hotspots, where officers conducted more than 2,000 high-visibility calls for service
during the 90-day period. Code Enforcement also played a key role by addressing
environmental conditions linked to crime, including securing abandoned buildings,
clearing overgrown vacant lots, and re-mediating other blight-related issues throughout
the neighborhood.
Captain Jeff Brink, Region Commander of the Southeast Region / Columbia Police
Department explained that the Millwood Avenue corridor initiative was developed as
part of a capstone project completed during the Policing Leadership Academy. Drawing
on experience with hotspot policing, the project focused on reducing gun violence in
areas with concentrated incidents, often linked to poverty and limited economic
opportunity. The initiative emphasized targeted, high-visibility patrols in problem areas
and incorporated a multipronged strategy that also addressed code enforcement and
environmental conditions contributing to crime.

There was discussion about single-family/apartment increase in density; charges for
code enforcement; light repairs; rental properties; door hanger distribution; sanctioned
properties; and empty lots.

3. Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement Update — Mr. Trevon Fordham,
 Ed.D., MSCJ, Director / Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE)

Dr. Trevon Fordham, Ed.D., MSCJ, Director / Office of Neighborhood Safety and
Engagement (ONSE) provided an update on the City’s community-based violence
prevention efforts. ONSE developed a "Pathways to Peaceful Neighborhood" activity
booklet and has recently welcomed a formerly incarcerated mentor to their team, who
shares personal experiences to encourage positive decision-making. He highlighted the
office's public health approach, which includes early intervention, community
engagement, and feedback from over 2,000 plus resident surveys. Through
neighborhood outreach, training, and partnerships with local organizations and schools,
ONSE promotes personal safety, conflict resolution, and workforce readiness.

Ms. Krystle Holmes Gay, LMSW, Program Manager / Office of Neighborhood Safety and
Engagement (ONSE) shared that the City recently hosted a Teen Dating Violence
Awareness event attended by 105 students ages 14 to 20. The program included
presentations from Pathways, Sistercare, and One Love, focusing on healthy
relationships, conflict resolution, warning signs of abuse, and trauma-informed
approaches. The session aimed to provide a safe space for open discussion and equip
young people with tools to recognize and respond to unhealthy relationship dynamics.

There was discussion about the Community Violence Intervention Workshop; tutoring/
after school services; and potential partnerships with workforce development
organizations and community youth.

Councilor Brennan asked staff to research the scope of boarding and transitional
housing in the neighborhoods and a survey of vehicular noise in hospitality districts.

Councilor Herbert also asked staff to research the process of establishing new boarding
and transitional housing.
Adjournment
This meeting was adjourned at 2:42 p.m.



Respectfully Submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC, CPM
City Clerk