Latest news with #MissouriDepartmentofPublicSafety
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Joplin police awarded Blue Shield state designation
The Joplin Police Department has been awarded Blue Shield designation by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The program was created by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January to recognize local governments that make significant efforts to reduce crime, foster law enforcement collaboration and build stronger community partnerships for public safety. Joplin police Chief Richard Pearson obtained City Council approval in April to apply for the program. Acceptance into the program will make the department eligible to apply for grants from a $10 million funding allocation approved by the Missouri Legislature. It is anticipated that funding will be available in July, state officials previously said. The Missouri Department of Public Safety will administer the program. 'We designed the Missouri Blue Shield Program to recognize communities that go above and beyond in creating a place where people want to live, work and build their futures,' Kehoe said when introducing the program. 'A Missouri Blue Shield designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local governments across Missouri who are leading the way in making public safety a priority.' 'The Department of Public Safety is proud to work alongside communities like Joplin that have shown exceptional dedication to enhancing public safety,' said Mark James, director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said in a statement. 'This program is about fostering collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Our goal is to support these efforts, providing resources and guidance to help communities build sustainable, long-term solutions for crime reduction and public safety.' Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez said of the program, 'We recognize the commitment of our police officers to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens through proactive patrols, community engagement and emergency response. This is a great honor to receive this designation from our state officials and will provide opportunities for grant applications focused on funding for law enforcement training and equipment.' Communities are eligible for the designation based on efforts to reduce crime, make substantial investments in public safety and develop collaboration with law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. Each participating community's commitment will be reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with the program's goals. Among the efforts of Joplin police that brought about acceptance as a Blue Shield agency is the department's collaboration with residents through the Joplin Police Department's Citizens Advisory Committee, its ongoing outreach efforts into neighborhood policing, the establishment of a new Co-Responder Unit partnership with Ozark Center, and the work of the Flex Platoon targeting illegal drugs in the area, according to city officials.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
JPD officially receives Missouri Blue Shield designation
JOPLIN, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Public Safety has awarded the Joplin Police Department with the Blue Shield designation — a distinguished recognition. Officials say the Missouri Blue Shield Program, created by Govenor Mike Kehoe in January, recognized local governments making significant efforts in building a sense of collaboration between itself and the community it serves, as well as reducing crime. JPD seeks community support to curb crime in 2025 'Public safety is the foundation of a thriving community and state. It affects everything from families feeling secure to businesses having the confidence to invest and grow,' said Governor Kehoe. 'We designed the Missouri Blue Shield Program to recognize communities that go above and beyond in creating a place where people want to live, work, and build their futures. A Missouri Blue Shield designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local governments across Missouri who are leading the way in making public safety a priority.' Local officials praised the JPD for their efforts that led to the designation. 'We recognize the commitment of our police officers to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens through proactive patrols, community engagement, and emergency response,' said Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez. 'This is a great honor to receive this designation from our state officials and will provide opportunities for grant applications focused on funding for law enforcement training and equipment.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Eric DeValkenaere still has a Missouri peace officer license. That's wrong
Now that the criminal case and civil litigation involving former Kansas City Police Detective Eric DeValkenaere have concluded, I'd like to see the ex-lawman officially stripped of his peace officer license. As it stands, DeValkenaere's license is merely inactive, which means he cannot be commissioned as a police officer this state until his license is made active again, according to Mike O'Connell, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Public Safety. Having an inactive license does not necessarily preclude DeValkenaere from being an officer again in the future, though. Only the state revoking his license or him voluntarily surrendering it could prevent that. 'Eric DeValkenaere has an inactive Class A peace officer license,' O'Connell wrote in an email. 'In Missouri, no one can hold a commission with a law enforcement agency without an active peace officer license.' I was told several factors could lead to an inactive license. In general, all peace officers in this state are required to take 24 hours of continuing law enforcement education courses each year, according to O'Connell. 'Officers who fail to show they are compliant with training requirements for any year, may, at the discretion of the Director of Public Safety, have their peace officer license made inactive, which means they cannot hold a commission until they demonstrate they have completed their CLEE training requirements,' he wrote. It seems only a technicality is keeping DeValkenaere from working in law enforcement again. Missouri must act and immediately suspend the peace officer license of the first Kansas City officer ever convicted of killing an unarmed Black man. DeValkenaere doesn't deserve to ever wear a badge again. He fatally shot Lamb and planted a gun at the crime scene to justify his inexplicable actions, according to Jackson County prosecutors. As a convicted felon, he has no legal right to carry a gun, either. If he has any sense of remorse, he would voluntarily surrender his certification. If he doesn't feel compelled to make that move, then Missouri Public Safety Director Mark James, appointed in January, should immediately suspend DeValkenaere's license and start the review process for permanent revocation. Under state statutes, James has the power to do just that. Any officer indicted for, charged with or convicted of a felony is subject to immediate suspension until an investigation is completed, a hearing is held and final determination is made. After Lamb's 2019 killing, DeValkenerare checked all three of those boxes — so it is fair to ask why he hasn't officially lost his ability to be a police officer. In 2021, DeValkenaere was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for killing Lamb. He was sentenced to six years in prison but served just over a year before former Gov. Mike Parson commuted the sentence. His successor Mike Kehoe has been been a vocal supporter of the convicted felon, callinghttps:// ,' and promising to get him out of prison while on the campaign trail. There's one possible explanation as to why no action has been taken against DeValkenaere's license: No one may have filed a formal complaint with Missouri's Peace Officer Standards and Training division to kick-start the process. Because of a state law that protects police officers' personnel records, we have no way of knowing if a complaint against this convicted felon is on file. But of all the names that appeared on a state list of revoked and surrendered peace officer licenses, DeValkenaere's isn't among them. Other Kansas City-area officers who committed illegal or questionable acts were on the list, including former Kansas City police officer Jason Moran and ex-Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers. Moran, a 22-year veteran with KCPD, surrendered his peace officer certification after he pleaded guilty last year to assault and harassment stemming from a road rage incident. Childers did the same after reaching a settlement agreement with state officials for running an unsanctioned work program for jail inmates. Days after a settlement was announced between Lamb's family and the KCPD, I checked the Department of Public Safety's online database for revoked licenses, and DeValkenaere's name was nowhere to be found. And that should sound the alarm for all Missourians, National Police Accountability Project executive director Lauren Bonds said. State police licensing agencies have broad discretion about when and whether to revoke an officer's license, she said. In many states, conviction of a crime would automatically trigger suspension or revocation of a license — but not in Missouri. 'Even if you disagree about whether an officer should face prison time for wrongfully killing someone, most people would agree that an officer that breaks the law and takes a life should not be an officer anymore,' Bonds said. Whether a complaint against DeValkenaere is on file or not, that shouldn't matter, in her opinion. 'Losing a policing license should be the bare minimum consequence for an officer that wrongfully kills someone,' she said. With DeValkenaere, that really doesn't seem to be the case.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SLMPD state control bill would also hold sheriff to higher standards
Note: This video is from March 12, 2025. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The bill for the state to take control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is one step away from being put into law by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe. But one extra line in the bill would force the sheriff to have additional training before taking office. Missouri House Bill 495, sponsored by Rep. Brad Christ, R-Sunset Hills, states that 'the sheriff of any city not within a county shall be required to hold a valid peace officer license pursuant to chapter 590 within two years of being elected as sheriff.' According to the Missouri Department of Public Safety, in order to be eligible for applying, they must meet the following requirements: 21 years of age or older Is a U.S. citizen Holds valid high school diploma or equivalent Graduate of Basic Law Enforcement Training Center Passes the Missouri Peace Officer License Exam No criminal history Applicants must complete a minimum of 600 hours in training in the state of Missouri, but some academies, such as the MSHP, require double the amount, according to Department of Public Safety Communications Director Mike O'Connell. The minimum basic training includes subject areas legal studies, interpersonal perspectives, technical studies and skill development. Family of Riley Strain files wrongful death lawsuit against Delta Chi fraternity Currently, the City of St. Louis has the following requirements to run for sheriff: U.S. Citizen Resident of the city for one year Taxpayer in City of St. Louis No felony convictions This part of the bill comes at a time when new St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery is facing lawsuits and scrutiny less than four months into his term. Former sheriff's deputy Darryl Wilson was working security at a south St. Louis gas station when he said Montgomery arrived and told him he was under arrest. Wilson said Montgomery also demanded his security license and personal gun. Additionally, attorneys stated last month that Montgomery lied when confronted about making an employee roll dice to keep his job. Most recently, St. Louis Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross filed a lawsuit against Montgomery earlier this month for allegedly detaining Ross for refusing access to an inmate. The sheriff reportedly wanted his department to interview an alleged rape victim, whom police spokesman Mitch McCoy said was off-limits after police had conducted an interview. Kehoe is expected to sign the bill into law on March 24. FOX 2 reached out to bill sponsor Brad Christ and Sheriff Alfred Montgomery for comment, but neither has responded upon publication of this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
