Governor Mike Kehoe

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

*April 8, 2025*

*Governor Kehoe Announces First 15 Communities to Achieve Missouri Blue Shield Designations*

"Missouri Blue Shield Program Recognizes Communities Dedicated to Effective Law Enforcement and Community Safety"

*JEFFERSON CITY, MO *– Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced 15 Missouri counties, cities, and towns as the first to have earned Missouri Blue Shield designations. To achieve this designation, Missouri communities must demonstrate their commitment to enhancing public safety, strengthening support for law enforcement, and building sustainable public safety partnerships. 

The Blue Shield Program, as outlined in Executive Order 25-03, [ [link removed] ] is part of the Governor’s Safer Missouri [ [link removed] ] initiative announced on his first day in office. Achieving the Blue Shield designation allows communities to access state grants for law enforcement training and equipment as Governor Kehoe continues to work with the General Assembly to make $10 million in grant funding available for this program. 

The first 15 communities include: *Jefferson County, Arnold, Warrensburg, Carter County, Miller County, Sedalia, Kennett, Branson, Desloge, Johnson County, Cole County, Grandview, Vinita Park, **Greenwood, *and* Town and Country.*

"We are proud to see Missouri communities committed to supporting our administration's top priority – improving public safety and building strong partnerships between citizens and law enforcement," *Governor Kehoe* said. "We have a number of applications from additional communities that are still under review, and we encourage even more communities to apply."

The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) is administering the Blue Shield Program. Applications continue to be accepted and should be submitted by an official from the jurisdiction seeking the Blue Shield designation in coordination with the jurisdiction’s chief law enforcement officer. Applications and all supporting materials should be submitted online at this link [ [link removed] ].

DPS will review applications and make determinations and notifications for Blue Shield designations for counties, cities, and towns within two weeks of application submission. DPS encourages communities to apply early, because if grant funding is approved by the General Assembly, the department will begin accepting grant applications in July, when the fiscal year 2026 funding becomes available. Questions on the application process can be directed to Courtney Kawelaske, [email protected].

Among the Blue Shield designation eligibility criteria are:


* 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.

Blue Shield counties, cities, and towns must maintain their commitments each year to retain the Blue Shield designation via annual reporting on their ongoing efforts to support public safety to DPS. Once local governments are approved for a Blue Shield designation, they will receive a public relations toolkit to showcase their community’s commitment to public safety. 


* Governor Kehoe Announces First 15 Communities to Achieve Missouri Blue Shield Designations.png [ [link removed] ]

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*Contact: Gabby Picard*

Communications Director

Mobile: 573-536-6566

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.governor.mo.gov


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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Office of Governor Mike Kehoe · PO Box 720 · Jefferson City, MO 65102 · (573) 751-3222 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]