Missouri Governor Mike Parson Tuesday announced funding for the training of 217 law enforcement recruits at Missouri training academies through the Missouri Blue Scholarship. Program. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
The program was launched last October as a way to help attract more Missourians to law enforcement careers and address officer shortages in law enforcement agencies across the state. The scholarships, administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety, were awarded on a first come, first served basis to pay for law enforcement training academy tuition.
One hundred sixty-nine recruits received the maximum $5,000 scholarship and 48 received scholarships ranging up to $4,953. Missouri Blue Scholarships can be combined with other student aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant Program, GI Bill benefits, and other scholarships.
Police Departments statewide have struggled offering competitive wages and hiring enough officers. Last year alone 24 police officers left the Columbia, Missouri Police Department, eight through retirement and 16 for other reasons.
Currently the city of Joplin is seeking to hire police officers and police officer trainees, a police service assistant and a 911 dispatcher. For 89 9 KRPS News, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
