New Police Unit Created In Downtown Columbia To Help Patrol Mall, Popular Areas

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Additional police officers will be stationed in downtown Columbia as part of a new crime reduction plan county leaders launched earlier this year.

The initiative came on the heels of a deadly shooting in February 2025 outside The Mall in Columbia. Emmetson Zeah, 18, of Columbia has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in connection to the shooting. Blake McCray, 15, was critically injured in the shooting, but died five days later, while the person he was with outside the mall Feb. 22, Michael Robertson, 16, died at the scene, Patch reported previously.

The permanent, full-time unit of police officers will oversee the Merriweather District, The Mall in Columbia and Columbia Lakefront. They will have a full-time satellite office inside the mall that will be established soon. The police department also has added an additional beat for patrol officers that will be assigned solely to the mall, 24 hours a day.

“We continue to work closely with HCPD and other stakeholders to take steps toward implementing strong measures to deter and combat crime in our community, as any act of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated as the safety of our residents and visitors remains our number one priority,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.

Police department leaders confirmed that they have not received any reports of gun crimes or shooting incidents in the area since increasing their daily presence around the mall and nearby pathways on foot patrols, mountain bikes, ATVs, Zero motorbikes and patrol cars, as well as assisting property managers with banning notices and made arrests for trespassing and theft. The increased police presence has allowed officers to address "nuisance and quality of life issues," such as disorderly conduct, parking violations and noise complaints.

“Combatting crime and reinforcing the public’s sense of safety are the most critical parts of our mission,” said Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der. “When we see an issue emerging, we make strategic decisions about resource allocation and crime-fighting strategies. We are fortunate that our recently increased staffing levels were approved by County Executive Ball and have enabled us to devote resources where they are most needed.”

In addition to addressing crime in downtown Columbia, HCPD is focusing on developing proactive strategies to keep serious crimes from happening in the first place, especially involving repeat offenders. HCPD has partnered with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services to attend prescheduled events as part of its juvenile monitoring program. So far, officers have attended three events, boosting "positive interactions with teens in DJS’s juvenile justice system."