By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Buchanan County and the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office have received Missouri Blue Shield designation from the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
The Blue Shield designation honor recognizes Missouri communities that demonstrate a steadfast commitment to enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement. The Missouri Blue Shield Program, created by Governor Kehoe in January recognizes local governments that make significant efforts to reduce crime, foster law enforcement collaboration, and build strong community partnerships for public safety.
“Public safety is the foundation of a thriving community and state. It affects everything from families feeling secure to businesses having the confidence to invest and grow,” said Governor Kehoe in a news release. “We designed the Missouri Blue Shield Program to recognize communities that go above and beyond in creating a place where people want to live, work, and build their futures. A Missouri Blue Shield designation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of local governments across Missouri who are leading the way in making public safety a priority.”
“The Department of Public Safety is proud to work alongside communities like Buchanan County, that have shown exceptional dedication to enhancing public safety,” said Mark James, Director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS). “This program is about fostering collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Our goal is to support these efforts, providing resources and guidance to help communities build sustainable, long-term solutions for crime reduction and public safety.”
The Buchanan County Commission is extremely proud to support the efforts of our Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“The Commission recognizes how important it is for our law enforcement to have the necessary resources to protect our citizens and make Buchanan County a safer community. We believe a safe Buchanan County leads to long term investment and growth in our community, making Buchanan County a wonderful place to raise a family. We are grateful for Governor Kehoe’s recognition and his efforts to tackle public safety issues throughout the state of Missouri.”
“The Sheriff’s Office greatly appreciates and is very honored to receive the Blue Shield designation by Governor Kehoe. Blue Shield designation demonstrates the outstanding hard work, dedication, and service before self-beliefs by the members of the Sheriff’s Office, as well as their commitment to service of the citizens of Buchanan County. The brave men and women of the Sheriff’s Office are privileged to represent the citizens of Buchanan County standing resolute in our duties, and deeply appreciate the unwavering support and resources provided by the Buchanan County Commission. Working together, with the members of our community, we continue to make Buchanan County a better and safer place.” said Sheriff Bill Puett