JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Governor Mike Kehoe announced in early March that counties, cities and towns in Missouri are eligible to apply for the Missouri Blue Shield.
Kehoe’s announcement looks to prioritize public safety, elevate support for law enforcement and cultivate public safety collaborations.
According to the announcement, the Blue Shield Program is one of Kehoe’s safety initiatives for Missourians.
“Improving public safety is the top priority of our administration, and Missouri communities that are making public safety and support of law enforcement a priority should be recognized,” Kehoe said.
With Blue Shield designation in the state, it gives communities the opportunity to have access to state grants for equipment and training for law enforcement.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) is in charge of issuing the Blue Shield Program for interested parties. The department will review and decide on designations for Missouri counties, cities and towns within two weeks of a submitted application.
The criteria for Blue Shield designation eligibility include:
- Passage of a resolution demonstrating a commitment to public safety, including to reduce violent crime within the jurisdiction;
- Extraordinary investments in public safety funding;
- Community policing initiatives or local partnerships to invest in and/or improve public safety;
- Law enforcement officer recruitment and retention program;
- Demonstrated effectiveness in reducing crime or innovative programs that attempt to reduce crime;
- Participates in regional anti-crime task forces, or a commitment to be a willing partner with these in the future; and
- Compliance with Missouri crime reporting and traffic stop data requirements and other related statutes.
According to the release, counties, cities and towns that are awarded with Blue Shield must keep their commitments through annual reporting on their efforts to public safety to DPS each year in order to maintain designation.
And once approved with designation, these areas will receive a public relations toolkit, demonstrating their commitment to public safety.
“We urge Missouri communities to apply for the Blue Shield designation to spread the word about the safer communities they’re building,” Kehoe said. “We will continue to work with the General Assembly to make $10 million in grant funding for law enforcement training and equipment available to Blue Shield communities.”
Applications to apply for Blue Shield designation can be found here. The deadline for the application is June 1.