Title
An Ordinance authorizing the execution of a grant agreement between the State of Missouri and the City of Lee's Summit for the Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program.
Body
Issue/Request:
The Missouri Blue Shield Program is a state-level recognition and incentive program for local governments in Missouri that demonstrate a strong commitment to public safety, law enforcement support, and community partnerships. It was established by Executive Order 25-03 under Governor Mike Kehoe, as part of his “Safer Missouri” initiative.
In 2025, the City applied for and was recognized with Blue Shield status, making it eligible for this grant. The Lee’s Summit Police Department completed the grant application, which was awarded and has a term starting October 1st, 2025 and ending May 15th, 2026. Under the terms of the agreement, the State of Missouri will reimburse the city for training and equipment for the police department up to $50,000.00.
The Lee’s Summit Police Department requests approval of the grant through this ordinance and the execution of the grant agreement.
Background:
The Lee’s Summit Police Department applied for and received grant funding from the State of Missouri on multiple occasions, most recently with MoDOT for their Highway Safety campaign.
To achieve a Blue Shield Designation, a city must meet the following requirements:
• A resolution committing to public safety and reducing violent crime
• Substantial investment in public safety funding
• Community policing initiatives or partnerships
• Recruitment and retention plans for law enforcement
• Demonstrated crime reduction or innovative safety programs
• Participation (or willingness) in regional anti-crime task forces
• Compliance with crime reporting and traffic stop data statutes
• Annual reporting to maintain status
The funds will be used to purchase application programming interfaces (API’s) for our current Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management System (RMS), and Jail Management Systems. These API’s will directly strengthen the department’s ability to implement justice information sharing technology. In addition, the department will purchase eight (8) Safariland Ballistic Shields for patrol operations. This will ensure that essential personal protective equipment (PPE) is readily available to patrol officers during high-risk incidents.
Both expenditures are consistent with the requirements of the Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Timeline:
Start: October 1, 2025
Finish: May 15th, 2026
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for approval and to advance to the second reading an Ordinance authorizing the execution of an ordinance authorizing the execution of a grant agreement between the State of Missouri and the City of Lee’s Summit for the Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of an Ordinance authorizing the execution of a grant agreement between the State of Missouri and the City of Lee’s Summit for the Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program.
Presenter
Travis Forbes, Chief of Police
Cary Colyne, Administrative Support Major
Committee Recommendation