Join the Conversation: Billings Public Safety Talks Set the Stage for Change

If you’ve ever wondered how public safety decisions get made downtown, or who actually responds when concerns pop up, you’re not alone. Now, you’ll have a chance to hear directly from the people involved.

Billings Public Library and Downtown Billings are launching a new Public Safety and Community Resource Series. It’s a free, monthly discussion designed to help you better understand how public safety and community resources work together right here in Yellowstone County.

Demystifying Public Safety in Daily Life

When we hear “public safety,” it can sound big and complicated. Agencies. Programs. Policies. But at the end of the day, it affects everyday life. Whether you’re a business owner downtown, someone who works in the area, or you just like grabbing dinner and walking around on a summer evening, it matters. This new series is meant to pull back the curtain.

READ MORE: Arrests in Yellowstone Raise Safety Questions

Each month, city and county partners, service providers, and community leaders will sit down in the Library’s Community Room to explain how their roles connect. How outreach works. How policing works. Where private security fits in. And how resource coordination plays a part in long-term safety and stability.

Spotlight on Downtown’s Safety Approach

The first discussion takes place on Thursday, March 19, from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Billings Public Library Community Room. The topic? Downtown Public Safety and Resource Coordination. The panel will include the Community Resource Director, Downtown Resource Officers, the Outreach Team, SK Security, and the Deputy City Attorney. Together, they’ll walk through how safety, engagement, and accountability are handled on a daily basis.

You’ll hear about community policing. You’ll learn how outreach teams and peer support connect people to help. You’ll find out how private security helps fill coverage gaps. And you’ll get an overview of the Motivated Addiction Alternative Program, also known as MAAP, which focuses on diversion and treatment options instead of repeated justice involvement. If you’ve ever asked, “How does all of this actually work together?” this is your chance to get answers.

The Importance of Collaborative Transparency

Kody Christensen, Community Resource Director for Downtown Billings, summed it up simply. Public safety is not the responsibility of one agency or program. It’s a coordinated effort. And that’s an important point.

No single department carries the full responsibility. It’s law enforcement, outreach workers, city leadership, security teams, and community partners all working in sync. This series is designed to help you see how those pieces fit together. Because when people understand the system, conversations tend to get more productive.

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How to Join and Stay Informed

Every monthly session is free and open to the public. No tickets. No registration hoops. Just show up, listen, learn, and be part of the dialogue. If you live in Billings, work downtown, own a business, or simply care about how our city functions, this is an opportunity to stay informed and involved.

You can find details about the first two meetings, including upcoming topics, on the Downtown Billings events calendar at downtownbillings.com. Sometimes the best way to move forward as a community is simply to sit down in the same room and talk. And that’s exactly what this new series is inviting you to do.