Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Recognition Blue Shield topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Brentwood committee votes to apply for Missouri 'Blue Shield' recognition as police outline equipment purchases and new state reporting
Summary
The Brentwood Public Safety Committee voted 4-0 to direct staff to apply to the Missouri Department of Public Safety's Blue Shield recognition program. At the same meeting, Police Chief Spies detailed equipment purchases funded by asset forfeiture and described how recent state executive orders could change local reporting and coordination.
The Brentwood Public Safety Committee voted 4-0 Wednesday to direct staff to submit an application to the Missouri Department of Public Safety for the Blue Shield recognition program.
The recognition program drew discussion after Police Chief Spies briefed the committee on department purchases and state executive orders that could affect local operations. The committee's action sends the application to the full Board of Aldermen for consideration.
The application vote. Alderman Sims moved that the city investigate and apply to participate in the Blue Shield recognition program; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with Chairman Plowka, Alderman Sims, Alderman Lochmiller and Alderman Harter voting yes. The committee record shows the measure “will go to the full board.”
Why it matters. The Blue Shield recognition program lists several criteria — including demonstrated reductions in violent crime, investment in public safety, and regional collaboration — that the state may use when recognizing participating municipalities. Chief Spies told the committee the city meets several of the listed elements but that some items, such as participation in a multi-jurisdiction task force, would require clarification or additional commitments.
What the police chief told the committee. Police Chief Spies told the committee that the department is continuing equipment and personnel work already included in the 2025 budget. Regarding new state directives, he said, “Operation relentless pursuit, it's it's a fugitive apprehension process,” and said some of the gubernatorial executive orders will require additional reporting or notifications to state and federal partners.
Chief Spies also reviewed near-term purchases and funding: “We ordered those with asset forfeiture. It's a $27,000 purchase of a new red dot red dot equipped firearm for our department,” he said, and added that the traffic enforcement electric vehicle ordered “was $56,114 … for the vehicle alone. All of it's being funded through asset forfeiture.” He said the asset forfeiture account currently holds "about roughly $368,000 in it." On body-worn cameras, Spies said the department expects to bring a capital approval to the board once vendor contract issues are resolved.
Staffing and crime trends. Spies said the department is hiring after a recent retirement and that applicants are advancing through psychological testing; if all goes well he expects an officer to be onboarded in about 30 to 45 days. He also summarized department crime statistics, saying Brentwood is down in Part 1 crimes year-over-year, with car break-ins falling: "car break ins ... were down 82 incidents from [the] prior year," and that the department's camera system produced 199 felony hits in 2024.
Next steps. The committee's vote directs staff to prepare and submit an application to the state recognition program; the application and supporting materials will be considered by the full Board of Aldermen.
