The Columbia Council of Neighborhoods met on Thursday March 26. Bruce Trezevant, CEO of Project Unity USA, presented project RAPTOR, a new camera system to help the Columbia Police that Project Unity USA has been working with communities in Richland County for two and a half years. Project RAPTOR will start off with twelve cameras that can obtain clear pictures during the darkness of night and also read a license plate up to 200 yards away. Not only is this supposed to help officers with crime in Columbia but it is also supposed to improve officer safety and risk management.

RAPTOR provides

1) Live video from law enforcement aircraft to officers on the ground

2) Live video of areas of interest

3) Live and recorded video to mobile command vehicles

4) Digitally recorded evidence to use in court

The cost of the system ranges between $650,000 and $675,000. Trezevant says that he will ask each resident of Richland County to donate $5 to cover the cost of the system.

Jeff Rainwater announced the next Super Saturday will be on Saturday, May 16 at Eau Claire High School. Super Saturday is a program with the city that provides an opportunity for residents to have questions answered by people from some city services like the police department. The event will be from 10 am to 1 pm.

Bessie Watson announced the CCN Annual awards banquet will be held on May 9 at the Columbia Metropolitan Center on 1101 Lincoln Street. The doors will open at 6 pm with the program beginning at 6:30. The cost of the event is $10 a person.

The next CCN meeting will be held on April 23.