Are we on the right path as a city? What are your thoughts as the reader? Be sure to follow Muscogee Muckraker on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see our upcoming stories as they break throughout the coming week.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — In this special edition of The Weekend Muck, we take a look at the dangerous state of the Columbus Police Department under the command of Chief Freddie Blackmon.

We held several exclusive interviews with CPD officers themselves to give voice to their side of the story, which is seldom told.

Here’s your weekend look at all the muck that’s fit to print from the Columbus, Ga. area, along with a look at what to expect in the week ahead. 

HAS CHIEF BLACKMON BROKEN CPD?

With the escalation of violent gang-related crime weighing heavily on the minds of more Columbusites than ever before in recent memory, many are looking to the hard-working and valiant officers of the Columbus Police Department for solutions.

Those solutions should be coming from police chief Freddie Blackmon — though his favorite line of “let me get back with you on that,” hasn’t provided them.

In November of 2020, Blackmon donned his new title and took over the department as Chief of Police after being personally recommended by Mayor Skip Henderson and confirmed through a unanimous vote of the city council. Henderson’s recommendation quickly revealed itself to have been questionable at best.

Within Blackmon’s first year as chief, violent crime rose throughout Columbus at rates that far outpaced the rest of the country. City manager Isaiah Hugley’s famed excuse of “it’s happening everywhere,” doesn’t cut it. 

In 2021, the city suffered an unprecedented 70 homicides with an astonishing 181 reported shooting victims. With a population of 205,617 people, that left Columbus with an unfathomable homicide rate of more than 34 per hundred-thousand residents (called per cent mille, or pcm). For context, the U.S. homicide rate as a whole that year was just 6.9 pcm.

On March 15, 2022, two Columbus police officers filed a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the city, Mayor Henderson, Chief Blackmon, and the city’s human resource director Reather Hollowell. The suit alleges that Blackmon was using race and gender as a determining factor for promotions within the department, and that Blackmon lowered educational and time-in-rank promotion requirements to allow certain hand-picked officers to be eligible for promotion. The lawsuit, DOWE et. al. v. COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT et. al., is case number 4:22-cv-00059 in Georgia Middle District Court.

During a city council meeting in February 2022, the city’s local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police made a presentation. That presentation revealed that 84% of Columbus police officers who were FOP members did not believe that Blackmon was capable of doing his job as chief; specifically that they do not believe Blackmon has the ability to treat officers fairly, ensure their safety, nor reduce crime.

Those 219 officers account for 70% of the entire Columbus Police Department; seven out of ten CPD officers formally stated through their union that they had low confidence in Blackmon’s ability to lead the department. 

In response, many officials who have no background in policing attempted to simply dismiss the FOP’s claims as “racism,” paying no mind to the fact that many of the officers stating Blackmon was incompetent were of a non-white race themselves. 

Both Mayor Henderson and City Manager Isaiah Hugley both dismissed the claims, publicly stating they believed the officer who gave the presentation must have had some personal vendetta against Blackmon — completely ignoring the 219 officers whose voices were being presented. 

However, data from a third-party study of the department would later show that Blackmon was in fact likely to be the cause.

In the face of extreme rising rates of violent crime coupled with a complete lack of official action from the city’s government, a private group of prominent local business owners and community leaders anonymously pooled hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money to hire a well-reputed private firm to conduct a world-class study of the Columbus Police Department. 

The largest observable metric through which the department’s internal problems have manifested is in the insanely low rates of officer retention. From 2016 through the present, the department has had 400 officers walk off the job; an average of 49 officers per year. 

Since Blackmon took over as chief, that yearly average nearly doubled to 84 officers quitting in 2021. 

While the department currently has a mere 118 patrol officers, the report states it should have an additional 196 for a total of 314; the department is missing 62% of the patrol officers it should have to keep the streets of Columbus safe. 

Explore the many intricate details surrounding the matter through our full-length article so you can decide for yourself if police chief Freddie Blackmon has broken the Columbus Police Department.

CPD OFFICERS UPDATE JENSEN HUGHES DATA; HIGHLIGHT SEVERITY

Officers of the Columbus Police Department have confidentially reached out to the Muckraker with new information that updates Jensen Hughes’ study, showing the issues have continued to devolve since the report was printed last November.

As we published just yesterday, the study conducted by Jensen Hughes stated that CPD currently has 118 patrol officers but should have an additional 196 for a total of 314; the department is missing 62% of the patrol officers it should have to keep the streets of Columbus safe. 

Now, that number is far lower. Several officers of the Columbus Police Department have stressed the continued deterioration of the department’s effectiveness since the report’s time of publication.

Here’s an excerpt from what the officer had to say about the current state of the department as it continues to devolve:

“I’m an officer with the Columbus Police Department. It's widely known throughout the department that the specialized units that addressed gang, drug, and violent crime have been gutted. From what I’ve heard, the unit was recently disbanded under the guise of being “temporarily discontinued.” Apparently the rock star cops who worked that unit were needed for basic patrol duty so they could answer 9-1-1 calls instead of doing their actual highly-specialized jobs.

The Special Operations Unit (drug/gang/vice) has gone from nearly 20 officers and supervisors to having 2 officers. There’s no way they can address the needs of the city.

Those elite officers probably aren't too happy about that, either.  If that were me, I’d be looking at other departments in other cities where I could actually do my job while keeping my family safer in the process. The morale of the entire department suffers because of this, as patrol officers see how little of an effect our work actually has in the big picture. It’s like we can't win no matter what we do and nothing matters. If I had to guess, I’d bet more officers will probably leave the department soon as a result of this.

The Jensen Hughes study stated there were about 118 patrol officers. Since that report was completed, that number has dropped down to actually about 90. Staffing is so low that we are regularly denied our standard vacation and holiday time. Even worse, we’re prohibited from attending training so we can stay on a patrol schedule instead. I really can’t emphasize enough how crazy and dangerous that is. Serious national incidents come from poorly trained officers.”

Explore the full story and read the officer’s complete statement for yourself and see how CPD’s severe leadership issues continue to destroy officers’ ability to keep our city safe.

VETERAN CPD OFFICER SAYS BLACKMON’S WORDS ARE ‘COMPLETE HORSE SH*T’

Another veteran officer of the Columbus Police Dept. reached out to the Muckraker to speak up about the dept.’s dangerous staffing issues, saying Chief Blackmon’s claim of the city being properly policed is “complete horse sh*t.” 

In an exclusive email exchange, a 20-year veteran police officer of the Columbus Police Department has reached out to the Muckraker with information highlighting the severity of the issues faced by the department under police chief Freddie Blackmon.

The officer’s message was received among those of many other officers who strongly feel that police chief Freddie Blackmon is not capable of leading the department.

The officer also commended the accuracy of our previous reporting on how the department’s dangerously-low staffing numbers are now far worse than what is shown by Jensen Hughes in its Nov. 2022 operational study of the department.

“I am a Columbus Police Officer with over 20 years of service. I appreciate you shedding light on the current total dysfunction within CPD. The public has no clue how bad things are, but the public deserves to know. I’m glad officers are beginning to speak out. Officers have been saying the same things over and over for some time now, but no one has been listening … When Chief Blackmon says every beat is covered, that’s complete horse sh*t. How can 26 police beats be covered with less than a dozen police officers working at some times?”

Explore the full story to hear the officer’s full statement for yourself and see how dangerously low CPD’s numbers continue to fall and how it prevents officers from keeping our city safe.

ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CPD WHISTLEBLOWER

In a follow-up to our previous reporting, a Columbus Police Officer answered the Muckraker’s questions about what is really going on inside the department, shedding light on how city officials have continued to do nothing about it, and how it continues to increase the dangerous crime plaguing our city. 

Here's an excerpt of our exclusive interview:

MUCKRAKER: What should the public know that isn’t being told regarding the Columbus Police Department? 

OFFICER: It seems everyone is saying this is somehow a race issue regarding Chief Blackmon.  IT IS NOT A RACE ISSUE. I'm sick of everyone playing the race card. The council meeting last February where the FOP presented the vote of no confidence was absolutely disgusting in the way (city manager) Isaiah Hugley played the race card. I could go on and on about the race card, but I digress. 

Consider this: at least one-dozen officers have left CPD to take employment with the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office; from a black chief of police to a black sheriff. Does that indicate the issues at CPD are about race?  I think not. If the public could only see the truth: THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACE — but city officials and the NAACP will keep playing the race card and it will continue to cause damage to the community. 

MUCKRAKER: What other thoughts do you have on the topic?

‍

OFFICER: The fact that city officials say that CPD and MCSO cooperate or collaborate is an absolute LIE. The two agencies DO NOT work well together. This was widely publicized last year after the run-in between CPD and MCSO at the jail sally port. That was embarrassing for both agencies. Just like normal, that story was a hot topic for a few days and then disappeared; typical for Columbus. 

Explore the full story for the complete full-length interview and see why there might not be someone there to answer the city’s 9-1-1 calls.

FORMER CPD SPECIAL OPS OFFICER SPEAKS UP

A former officer of the Columbus Police Department’s Special Operations Unit has spoken up in another exclusive interview with the Muckraker, answering questions about what they believe is adding to the department’s dysfunction. 

Here’s an excerpt from our full interview:

MUCKRAKER: What other things come to mind? What are the biggest flaws/problems/conflicts you see?

OFFICER: The lack of support from anybody in the chain of command. We essentially went from a unit of 15+ all the way down to like four officers before I left. Without getting into the details, we were tasked with the impossible: to go after violent gang members and arrest them.

We had no support from any other investigators or from our own criminal intelligence units. They effectively did not exist.

(Chief Freddie) Blackmon kept telling our supervisors to “do less with more,” but offered absolutely no support for them to actually do so. 

When we brought a detainee to the Muscogee County Jail, we would literally wait “on the wall” for at least three- and a half-hours because of the bad blood between the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department.

MUCKRAKER: What do you think is driving that lack of support?

OFFICER: With what our unit was tasked to do, the lack of leadership and support from our own police department provided a huge safety issue. When we’re only working with a roster of four people, having one person stuck at the jail for that long makes us unable to do our job. That allows even more criminal activity to happen throughout the city.

‍

Explore the full story to see why they quit the force and how the sheriff’s office and city courts amplify CPD’s leadership issues.

CPD OFFICER SAYS CITY WILL ‘BECOME A WAR ZONE’ IF DEPT LEADERSHIP ISN’T FIXED

Another officer of the Columbus Police Department spoke up about the dangerous state of the dept. under Chief Blackmon, saying the city will “become a warzone” if the problems remain unsolved. 

The officer cited specific examples of how the department’s leadership continues to destroy the effectiveness of the city’s police force from the top-down, emphasizing that city officials have continued to ignore the years-long problem and have done nothing to help fix it.

The officer also mentioned how the inevitable continuing rise of violent crime under police chief Freddie Blackmon’s command could likely result in a negligent retention lawsuit against the city.

Here’s an excerpt from the no-holds-barred interview:

MUCKRAKER: What are your general thoughts surrounding the current situation with CPD?

OFFICER: The current situation is dire and getting worse each and every day. The chain of command — with the exception of a few — is composed of bullies who were placed in their positions based on friendship rather than merit.

We also experience constant threats of suspension for simply wanting to do our jobs. Calling it micromanagement would be an understatement. Captains and Deputy Chiefs who really have no idea how to police are ruling the department with an iron fist. Micromanagement runs downhill, and it starts at the top. As a result, officers are overworked, burned out, and grossly unappreciated. Those of us who are still here love this city. We love what the department used to be and could be again. 

MUCKRAKER: You’ve mentioned that it almost seems as if Chief Blackmon is sinking the department on purpose. Can you expand on that a bit? Do you potentially see that as an actual possibility, or is it merely an expression of how poorly his performance has been?

OFFICER: Nothing else honestly makes sense.  It’s literally that bad. He can't actually be this stupid, incompetent, ignorant, and blind, can he? No, I don’t have any actual proof that he is doing it on purpose. Those are just my honest thoughts as a seasoned police officer and the thoughts of several others as well. 

MUCKRAKER: Wow, those are strong words. Thank you for clarifying that. What in particular about Chief Blackmon’s leadership style has led his officers to have formed such strong negative opinions? Can you provide any specific examples? 

Explore the full story to hear specific examples of how the department continues to erode, leaving the city to rot.

THE WEEK AHEAD

City council will meet this coming Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Jensen Hughes will be formally presenting their Operational Assessment of the Columbus Police Department towards the beginning of the meeting.

Following Jensen Hughes’ presentation, police chief Freddie Blackmon is scheduled to provide an update on the department. 

According to officers of the Columbus Police Department who have privately reached out to the Muckraker, members of the public are strongly encouraged to attend Tuesday's meeting in a show of support for the officers. The meeting will be held in the council chambers on the second floor of the Citizens Service Center, located at 3111 Citizens Way, Columbus, GA 31906.

Will you be there? Perhaps we will be, too… We hope to see you there.

Are we on the right path as a city? What are your thoughts as the reader? 

Be sure to follow Muscogee Muckraker on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see our upcoming stories as they break throughout the coming week.

Ask the hard questions. Fix the hard answers. Rake the muck.

Facts are stubborn things — and we’ll keep publishing them, whether city officials like them or not.

-30-

© 2023 Muscogee Muckraker. All rights reserved.

‍