Latest news with #St.JosephPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
National Police Week Memorial Service held to honor officials
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — In recognition of National Police Week, law enforcement agencies held a memorial service to honor and pay respect to personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice. The service was held at the Northwest Missouri Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Civic Center Park. Members from the St. Joseph Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H and other Northwest Missouri legal departments were in attendance. Families, friends and civilians came to show their support for those who have fallen. It's a great time to not only remember the good times and the bad times, but just to reconnect with everyone," Buchannan County Sheriffs Office captain Michael Hess said. "But more importantly, just to remember that these gentlemen lost their lives in the line of duty and to pay tribute to them, to their families. Lexi Dekraai Ussary, the daughter of St. Joseph police officer Dan Dekraai, who died following a training exercise in 2010, spoke at the service. The memorial will be again next year to honor law enforcement personnel.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Budget planning shifts to public safety departments, including police and fire
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Public safety funding will take center stage at City Hall Thursday evening as budget planning shifts to St. Joseph's police and fire departments for day three of discussions. Councilmembers and city leaders will return from a one-day break and resume FY2026 budget talks from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8. As mentioned previously, overall Public Safety funding will experience a recorded budget decrease of roughly $16.6 million as the result of planned budget policy changes such as the elimination of fund transfers, particularly for the Public Safety and the Police Tax funds. This change resulted in marked decreases in budgeted revenues and expenditures by fund to align with this new policy. Ultimately, the budgeted amounts by function are consistent with prior years. * St. Joseph Fire Department: $19.4 million budgeted ($27% decrease). * St. Joseph Police Department: $25.1 million budgeted (26% decrease). Early this week, City Manager Mike Schumacher communicated to councilmembers his desire to increase funding for additional fire department training in fiscal year 2026. The department recorded an all time high in training hours in 2025 as it successfully filled open positions. Along with police and fire, a $4.7 million budget for the St. Joseph Health Department, a projected 9.5% decrease from last year, will also be brought up for further discussion, including funding talks for general health services and animal control. A finalized budget is expected to go before City Council for first reading on May 27 followed by a final vote on June 9. Fire Department planned initiatives: * Present a fleet replacement proposal to plan for the spread of financial burden while continuing to replace the aging fleet. * Serve on a federal task force to identify best practice for FD response to homelessness. * Begin to create specifications for a new ladder truck to serve the west side as part of the CIP plan (3-year build-time). * Pursue a partnership with MWSU or NCMC in the creation of a fire academy for local recruitment. Police Department planned initiatives * Initiated a large-scale project to procure body-worn cameras and to replace vehicle and interview room cameras. * Continue to move forward with our mission to become accredited with the Missouri Police Chief's Association. * Remain focused on plans to replace the aging fleet and provide members with the most functional patrol vehicles. Stay with us as we continue to update this story post-meeting.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
SJPD is hiring new officers, paid academy sponsorship available
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is inviting anyone interested in a Law Enforcement career to participate in their upcoming new hire testing. SJPD currently has 18 positions open with the department they would like to see filled soon. Currently, we have 11 people in our hiring process or background investigations," said Sgt. Jeremy Peters with the SJPD. "So realistically, if everything works out, we should be down to about seven positions and we'd like to see all of those filled." Candidates will complete a written exam covering reading, writing, grammar, and math, followed by a physical agility test. Those who pass both will advance to a panel interview with department leaders. SJPD emphasizes they are seeking individuals who will be an asset to the team and uphold the department's high standards. "Of course, we want people with good integrity and who are self-motivated," Peters said. "We're always looking to add to our staff with people who want to get out into the community and make a difference." The hiring test will take place on Saturday, May 17 and will be the test where candidates can qualify to get into the local police Academy this summer in July. Tuition and costs for the police Academy training, which will be held at Missouri Western State University's campus, will be fully covered. "If we decide to hire an individual, we're going to make sure that the academy gets paid for," Peters said. "While they're attending the classes, they're going to make about $18 an hour to go to school along with accruing benefit time. New hire testing will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the St. Joseph Police Department, located at 501 Faraon Street. Students are guaranteed to start earning vacation, holiday and sick leave while in the academy. To apply online, visit
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
SJPD is hiring new officers, paid academy sponsorship available
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is inviting anyone interested in a Law Enforcement career to participate in their upcoming new hire testing. SJPD currently has 18 positions open with the department they would like to see filled soon. Currently, we have 11 people in our hiring process or background investigations," said Sgt. Jeremy Peters with the SJPD. "So realistically, if everything works out, we should be down to about seven positions and we'd like to see all of those filled." Candidates will complete a written exam covering reading, writing, grammar, and math, followed by a physical agility test. Those who pass both will advance to a panel interview with department leaders. SJPD emphasizes they are seeking individuals who will be an asset to the team and uphold the department's high standards. "Of course, we want people with good integrity and who are self-motivated," Peters said. "We're always looking to add to our staff with people who want to get out into the community and make a difference." The hiring test will take place on Saturday, May 17 and will be the test where candidates can qualify to get into the local police Academy this summer in July. Tuition and costs for the police Academy training, which will be held at Missouri Western State University's campus, will be fully covered. "If we decide to hire an individual, we're going to make sure that the academy gets paid for," Peters said. "While they're attending the classes, they're going to make about $18 an hour to go to school along with accruing benefit time. New hire testing will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the St. Joseph Police Department, located at 501 Faraon Street. Students are guaranteed to start earning vacation, holiday and sick leave while in the academy. To apply online, visit
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Yahoo
Theft investigation continues, Plato's Closet back in action
A local clothing and accessory resale store is back in business after a Saturday morning break-in shut it down for the weekend. A video posted on Plato's Closet's Facebook page showed three hooded suspects exiting the store with items after breaking in. Owner Jill Martin was out of town at the time of the break-in. 'It's heartbreaking you feel very violated,' Martin said. 'You know stuff happens but it is different when it happens to you, whether its your home or business it hits different.' The main items stolen from the store were designer hand bags, clothes and inserts to the register drawers. Martin did not specify the total value of the items stolen. The initial break-in occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, a suspect attempted to use a crowbar to get into the store. The store alarm went off and police arrived on the scene to investigate. Later that same evening around 4:30 a.m. the suspects went back to the store, shattered the door and broke in. Martin worked to clean up the mess this past Sunday, Feb. 23 and the front door is being fixed. Martin is putting new security measures in place for the future. 'We're upgrading our security and we're going to have additional cameras,' Martin said. 'We have cameras inside and outside the store but it never hurts to have more.' The video posted to the store's Facebook page has over 120,000 views and Martin said she feels blessed by the concerned community. Another positive Martin highlighted is that no employees were hurt during the break-in. 'That's always my first priority, is my team,' She said. 'We are grateful, stuff and things can always be replaced so I am grateful for that.' Martin said that the St. Joseph Police Department have multiple videos with different views of the incident and the investigation is ongoing. News-Press NOW reached out to SJPD for an update. News-Press NOW will update this story as more information becomes available.
