Mediation services are now available to anyone with a complaint against the Columbia, MO Police Department. Unfortunately, the mediation program isn't being as well-funded as was hoped for.

Does this mean that citizens are just plain out of luck? Not quite--at least not yet. But it's not cut-and-dry, either.

Mediation is to Address Police Complaints

The new program would help citizens with complaints against the department seeking mediation instead of more complicated or expensive routes.

Citizens now will have the option of going to mediation in place of allowing Internal Affairs to handle their complaint.

The only exception would be when the use of force is concerned. That would be handled by internal affairs.

Civil Mediation Available on a First-Come Basis

While no one is saying it out loud, the services will basically be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

This isn't necessarily the intentions of those who are running the program. It's just a simple lack of funding.

Since many of the services would come from professionals, the Columbia Citizen's Police Review Board will need to spend money on each mediation case. Unfortunately, the review board has a limited budget.

The Citizen's Police Review Board Budget

Right now, the board's total budget is $7,500, and it has voted to spend $3,450 on various mediation services contracts.

The board would like to hire a part-time manager, but it was recently revealed that the Columbia City Council's tentative 2013 budget has no money set aside for that position.

Police Mediation Will Keep on Truckin'

"There's no money as hoped, but it's important to move ahead," said Review Board member Betty Wilson. Those on the board involved with facilitating mediation services are ready to assign as many cases as they possibly can.

"It's important to get our feet wet" with the mediation program, said member Roger Dowis.

Time will tell the outcome of the mediation process that is being run with a lack of funding.