SIKESTON, Mo. — Several Southeast Missouri law enforcement agencies were among over 100 awarded public safety grants by the state on Thursday.
Gov. Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Public Safety has awarded 106 Missouri law enforcement agencies a total of more than $700,000 in grants to purchase essential equipment used by officers, including ballistic vests, first aid and trauma kits, police radios, light bars and sirens.
The grants are designed to help protect officers and increase safety across Missouri.
“Each time they put on their badge, Missouri law enforcement officers take on tremendous risks without second guessing the potential impacts on themselves,” Parson said Thursday. “They do a job most people don’t want to do, and they must have the proper equipment to protect themselves and our fellow citizens. These grants will assist in the purchase of ballistic vests, police radios, light bars, sirens, and other equipment to help our law enforcement officers do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible.”
Locally, the following agencies received grants: Bernie Police Department, $2,447.41 for nine reflective vests/protective clothing and one light bar/light; Dexter Police Department, $974.70 for 19 medical items (trauma kits, first aid kits, AEDs, etc.); Malden Police Department, $9,600 for three radios/repeaters; Matthews Police Department, $505.59 for three flashlights and two miscellaneous items; New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, $9,999.77 for 32 reflective vests/protective clothing, 49 medical items, 14 light bars/lights and 37 miscellaneous items; Steele Police Department, $1,317.60 for six medical items and six miscellaneous items; Stoddard County Sheriff’s Department, $6,400 for two radios/repeaters; and Van Buren Police Department, $7,987.50 for eight ballistic/bulletproof vests, eight medical items, one helmet/shield/baton, five flashlights, two body cameras, eight handcuffs and four miscellaneous items.
“These grants will increase the ability of our Missouri police officers and sheriffs’ deputies to do their jobs more safely,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “The money will fund over 140 ballistic vests, over 300 first aid and trauma kits, over 60 police radios, and other important equipment. In an era of tight budgets, these funds can make a difference.”
A total of $708,000 in federal Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG/JAG) funds from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance has been awarded to 106 law enforcement agencies, including municipal police departments, county sheriffs, public university police departments, and state law enforcement agencies.
Grant awards are limited to a maximum of $9,999.99. Grant recipients must purchase their approved equipment by June 30.
In total, the funding will help pay for the following: 143 ballistic vests; 67 police radios; 5 vehicle; 174 light bars/lights; 40 siren boxes/speakers; 38 car cages/partitions; 272 reflective vests/protective clothing (cut-resistant gloves, raincoats, parkas); 307 first aid/trauma kits; 13 body cameras; 1 in-car camera; 6 mobile data terminals; 193 flashlights; 70 protective shields, helmets and batons; 113 handcuffs, leg restraints; 55 miscellaneous items, including metal detectors, thermal imaging equipment, equipment storage boxes, etc.