Milan Police Dept. to Purchase New Vehicle
City of Milan Awarded $50,000 Missouri Blue Shield Grant to Strengthen Public Safety
Submitted by Crystal Bupp, City Administrator
MILAN, Mo. (November 17, 2025) — The City of Milan has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS), Office of Homeland Security’s SFY 2026 Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program.
The City of Milan Police Department will utilize the funds to purchase a new fully equipped police vehicle, ensuring officers have reliable, modern equipment to continue providing 24/7 law enforcement services to the community.
The City of Milan was recently designated as a Missouri Blue Shield Community, a distinction that recognizes municipalities for developing comprehensive, sustainable plans to fight crime and promote safer communities. The Blue Shield designation made Milan eligible to apply for grant funding through the program.
A total of 201 counties, cities, and towns across Missouri earned the Governor’s Blue Shield designation for their commitment to advancing community safety and proactive crime prevention strategies.
“This award represents another important investment in the safety and readiness of our officers and the community they protect,” said Mayor Andy Herington. “We’re proud that the City of Milan has earned the Blue Shield designation, and we’re grateful to the Department of Public Safety for supporting small municipalities like ours with the tools we need to keep residents safe.”
City of Milan Chief of Police, Gail Hayes added, “This funding will allow our Police Department to replace an aging vehicle and immediately strengthen patrol capacity. For a small department, being able to purchase a fully equipped patrol vehicle means it can be placed into service quickly and efficiently — saving valuable time and resources.”
The Missouri Blue Shield Grant Program is administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Office of Homeland Security. The program was created to help designated Blue Shield communities acquire equipment and technology that enhance law enforcement effectiveness, officer safety, and community trust.
