Overview
- The Mall in Columbia location opened Tuesday, June 16, 2026, as the sixth Howard County police satellite office and a concrete step of the county’s Crime Reduction Plan.
- The county paid a $100,000 lump sum to establish the site and will cover future operating costs for the storefront workspace.
- The office provides a workspace for patrol and Community Outreach & Pathways Section (COPS) officers to take reports and conduct investigative follow-ups but will not be staffed 24/7.
- Staffing includes one patrol officer assigned to the mall and two COPS officers covering downtown Columbia during the week, and officers will regularly use the space during mall hours.
- Officials say the storefront builds on prior tactics such as foot patrols, bike and ATV patrols, and strengthens partnership with mall security to restore public confidence and deter crime.