The Howard County Sheriff’s Department will benefit from $10 million in crime-fighting grants from Gov. Mike Kehoe’s Blue Shield program.

The Governor on Monday announced state grants for 350 Missouri Blue Shield counties, cities, towns, and one school district that earned the Blue Shield designation in 2026.

The Governor’s Blue Shield program requires participating jurisdictions to create comprehensive, sustainable programs to fight crime and promote safer communities. In the second year of the program, participation jumped 74% from 201 communities last year to 350 this year.

Blue Shield Awards to Communities include 351 mobile data terminals, 232 body cameras, 313 ballistic vests, 170 interoperable radios, 81 vehicles, and 23 UTVs.

Howard County Sheriff Jeff Oswald said his department would use the $29,070 grant to help pay for an additional SUV.

“From day one, we’ve made it clear that public safety is our number one priority, and the Blue Shield program is about putting that commitment into action,” said Governor Kehoe. “This year, even more communities stepped up to earn the Blue Shield designation, showing they share our commitment to backing law enforcement and keeping Missourians safe. Now, we’re backing them with the equipment and resources their officers need to do their jobs effectively. That’s what Blue Shield is all about.”

Department of Public Safety Director Mark James said he is intent on advancing practical steps to fight crime and help equip and train law enforcement to build a safer Missouri. “In two years, we will have provided funding for over 700 mobile data terminals, almost 500 body cameras, over 400 ballistic vests, over 125 law enforcement vehicles, and over 250 interoperable radios, along with other equipment and training opportunities. Blue Shield is making a difference, particularly in smaller communities with limited resources.”

The $10 million in Blue Shield grants are awarded equally, meaning each of the funded jurisdictions could apply $29,070 toward equipment or training if they met Missouri Blue Shield requirements and were designated as a Blue Shield community by June 1, 2026. A total of 95  counties, 252 cities, two towns, and one school district were approved as Blue Shield communities. The Blue Shield Program, outlined in Executive Order 25-03, is part of the Governor’s Safer Missouri initiative, which he announced on his first day in office.

Communities received notification of their grant awards by email last week from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.

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.​