04-04-2025
Council to consider proposal to be 'Blue Shield' city
The Joplin City Council will act at a meeting Monday on a resolution that would designate Joplin as "Blue Shield City" for public safety.
The action, along with some other steps, would make the city eligible for state public safety grants.
A city document states that the designation recognizes the efforts of local government to enhance public safety, foster law enforcement support and encourage community partnerships relative to public safety.
It is program established by Gov. Mike Kehoe and launched March 5. The designation is available to counties as well as cities and towns.
According to state documents, a step in the application process is for the city or county governing body to pass a resolution acknowledging Blue Shield status. Once approved, the city would be eligible to apply for grant funding once the legislature has given final approval to $10 million in funding for the program.
In announcing the program, Kehoe said, "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. We urge Missouri communities to apply for the Blue Shield designation to spread the word about the safer communities they're building. 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."
The Missouri Department of Public Safety will administer the program. Applications are to be made by a city or county official and the jurisdiction's chief law enforcement officer. The state has encouraged applications to be made as soon as possible because it is expected that grant funding could become available in July upon legislative approval of the state budget.
To be eligible, in addition to the Blue Shield declaration, cities and counties must show that the entity:
• Provides extraordinary investments in public safety funding.
• Provides community policing initiatives or local partnerships to invest in and/or improve public safety.
• Provides law enforcement officer recruitment and retention programs.
• Demonstrates 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.
• Complies with Missouri crime reporting and traffic stop data requirements and other related statutes.
Blue Shield counties, cities and towns must maintain their commitments each year to retain the Blue Shield designation by providing annual reporting on their ongoing efforts to support public safety to the state.
Once local governments are approved, they will receive a public relations toolkit to show their community's commitment to public safety, according to the state's information about the program.
There also are a few zoning requests on the agenda as well as some contracts for wastewater projects and other spending.
The City Council meets at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 602 S. Main St.
