MARIES COUNTY — Vienna and Maries County have both been approved for the 2026 Blue Shield designation, according to a recent press release from Police Chief Shannon Thompson and the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s website.

Gov. Mike Kehoe created the program on Jan. 13, 2025, in Executive Order 25-03 to recognize local governments’ efforts to improve public safety. This executive order was part of his Safer Missouri initative to increase safety and reduce crime in the state.

Each applicant receives $50,000 to purchase law enforcement equipment or train its employees. Throughout the state, these grants paid for 388 mobile data terminals, 351 body cameras, 151 license plate readers, 102 ballistic vests, 91 interoperable radios and 56 vehicles, according to DPS Director Mark James in the press release.

Sheriff Mark Morgan believes that this grant has a “huge impact” on small law enforcement agencies because they usually have limited money available. Therefore, these grants make the agencies more effective in keeping their communities safe.

The county used its funds from last year’s grant to purchase a patrol boat to better aid its emergency water response. Before, deputies had to use personal boats for rescues. The sheriff’s office also purchased license plate readers. Morgan said the boat cost about $25,000 with additional expenses to equip it for service.

“There’d be no way, just through normal budgeting, that we would be able to have a boat that’s going to allow us to be able to access remote areas of the river in times of emergency rescue type scenarios,” Morgan said.

While the county was a part of the approved 2025 communities, Vienna was not. The 2026 application window was Feb. 4 - June 1, and previously approved communities had to reapply.

To qualify for the program, the local governments must meet several qualifications, such as passing a resolution committing to reduce violent crime, investing in public safety, demonstrating policy effectiveness and working with stakeholders and other law enforcement agencies.

Entities must submit an annual report of the past year’s public safety commitment and goals for the next year.