Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Belton staff seeks Blue Shield designation to unlock state public-safety grants
Summary
City staff briefed council on the governor’s Blue Shield designation and said Belton appears to meet the criteria; council will consider a resolution on May 27 to apply, which could make the city eligible for a share of $10 million in DPS-administered grants in the FY2026 budget.
City staff told the Belton City Council on Tuesday they intend to pursue a state “Blue Shield” designation that would make the city eligible for grants and training funds tied to an executive order by Missouri’s governor.
The program, announced in Executive Order 25-03 on Jan. 13, 2025, recognizes local governments that commit to programs intended to reduce violent crime and strengthen law enforcement and community partnerships. A staff presenter said the governor is “setting aside 10,000,000 in funds, to be administrated by the Department of Public Safety, for grants, for equipment training,” and said more information on the grant process should be available in July.
Staff walked council through the program’s checklist and said Belton already meets many of the criteria: a council resolution committing to public safety (the staff presenter said a proposed resolution would be before council on May 27), investments in public safety since 2018, community partnerships and participation in regional task forces.
Examples staff cited included the city’s public-safety sales tax investments, a detective assigned to the FBI digital forensics lab, recent purchases of Motorola portable radios and license-plate reader expansion, a mental-health co-responder position and other community policing partnerships. “We are partnering with veil loss prevention to target career theft suspects,” the presenter said.
Council members asked clarifying questions about whether Belton already meets requirements and how grant funds would be used. Staff said Belton likely qualifies and that uses of grant funds would be subject to council guidance and community needs; potential priorities mentioned included expanded human-trafficking task force support and continued focus on domestic-violence and assault investigations.
Staff will present a resolution at the council’s May 27 meeting to certify Belton’s intent to apply. The designation requires annual reporting to the Missouri Department of Public Safety to maintain eligibility if the city is accepted.
