Over 200 communities received Blue Shield designations and grants of $50,000 in 2025 for their dedication to effective law enforcement and community safety JEFFERSON CITY – Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced Missouri counties, towns, and cities can now apply to be recognized as Blue Shield communities in 2026 for their dedication to effective law enforcement and community safety.

In 2025, 201 communities earned the Blue Shield designation and were later awarded state grants of $50,000 each for the purchase of law enforcement equipment and/or training. A map of Missouri Blue Shield communities and a list of these jurisdictions is available here. Equipment the state grants funded in 2025 included 388 mobile data terminals, 351 body cameras, 151 license plate readers, 102 ballistic vests, 91 interoperable radios, and 56 vehicles.

“Last year’s success of the Blue Shield program demonstrated what’s possible when communities commit to prioritizing law enforcement and public safety,” Governor Kehoe said. “We are building on that commitment by expanding the program and giving more towns, cities, and counties the opportunity to earn a Blue Shield designation.

This program is about accountability, partnership, and building on the foundation of a safer Missouri.”