Highway Patrol Launches ‘Show-Me Shield’ Reporting Site

The Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol on Tuesday, August 18, announced the launch of a new site for the public to report suspicious activity in Missouri: “Show-Me Shield” has replaced the Missouri SafeNation app. Show-Me Shield, which can be accessed by visiting ShowMeShield.mo.gov, is now available for the public to file suspicious activity reports (SAR) online.

Based on the national “See Something Say Something” initiative used to encourage the public to report potential terrorist-related suspicious activity, Show-Me Shield is where Missourians may report unusual items or situations they encounter, persons attempting to elicit information at a level beyond simple curiosity about a building’s purpose, operations, security procedures and/or personnel, when shift changes occur, etc.

These activities may be innocent, and it’s important to consider the context of each situation. Law enforcement will determine whether the behavior warrants additional investigation.

The Patrol also announced its Courage2Report school violence and anti-bullying hotline will now be accessed by visiting Courage2ReportMO.com

Courage2Report will receive tips online or by calling 1-866-748-7047. Tips will continue to be handled 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by trained professionals. The Courage2Report and SafeNation apps have been deactivated and will no longer be monitored.

The Missouri School Violence Hotline (SVH) began in October 2001. In 2019, through the Missouri School Safety Initiative, the reporting mechanism moved to the Missouri Information Analysis Center for 24/7 operation and was named Courage2Report. The goal is to make schools safer by helping school districts and law enforcement learn about school violence before it happens.

Courage2Report partners with public and private schools in Missouri with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. All reporting through the Courage2Report platform is confidential.

KPGZ News – Missouri State Highway Patrol

Police Funding Tax Returns to Voters in November

Kearney voters will once again decide whether to approve a half-cent sales tax dedicated to supporting the city’s police department.

The measure, known as Prop P, is scheduled to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. If approved, the local public safety tax would help fund police staffing, competitive wages, overtime and additional safety needs for the Kearney Police Department. A similar initiative fell short by just 44 votes last year.

For shoppers, the increase would amount to 5 cents on a $10 purchase or 50 cents on a $100 purchase.

City officials say the need for additional funding remains unchanged since the proposal was last put before voters in 2024.

“Our needs haven’t decreased, just like every other city’s needs; expenses continue to go up,” said Colleen Doctorian, a communications representative for the city of Kearney.

Doctorian said revenue from the proposed tax would be directed toward officer pay and department safety, two areas city leaders have identified as priorities.

Retention is also a major reason the city is bringing the question back to voters. Doctorian said competitive salaries are necessary to keep experienced officers in Kearney and maintain public safety services.

“It is very important in order to retain officers we have to have funding to fund salaries and keep our officers safe,” Doctorian said.

Among voters, opinions on Prop P remain mixed. Opponents site inflation and the rising cost of everyday expenses as reasons why they are opposing the measure.

Kearney residents will go to the polls on November 3 to vote on Prop P.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Flock Camera Found Cut Down Near 19th and Nation Road

Kearney Police are investigating after a pole supporting a Flock license plate reader camera was cut down Thursday morning , though the pole and camera were left at the scene.

The reader was located near 19th Street and Nation Road, close to the site where a new fire station is under construction. City officials said the camera was in a remote area, and there were no nearby homes with security cameras that could have captured the incident.

Colleen Doctorian, the City of Kearney’s public information officer, said an officer discovered the damage early Thursday.

“Early this morning one of our officers noticed that the Flock camera that’s at 19th and Nation Road had been cut down,” Doctorian said.

Images from the scene showed what appeared to be a clean cut through the pole, with the camera lying on the ground nearby.

The damaged camera is one of 14 Flock cameras installed in Kearney, where the technology has become the subject of ongoing public discussion. Some residents have raised privacy concerns about automated license plate readers, while others have said they support the cameras as a law enforcement tool.

Doctorian said the city plans to replace the Nation Road camera. She said the police department uses the cameras to help with criminal investigations, describing them as one of several technology tools available to police.

City officials said anyone caught cutting down the cameras could potentially face felony property damage charges.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Kearney Police Department at 816-407-3700 or the department’s business line at 816-628-3925.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Resurfacing Project to Bring Pilot Car Operations to MO-33

Drivers on Missouri Highway 33 should prepare for delays beginning Aug. 17 as the Missouri Department of Transportation begins pavement resurfacing and ADA improvement work between U.S. Route 69 and Holt.

The project will include pilot car operations at several intersections and along MO-33 while crews complete resurfacing work. MoDOT said all work is weather permitting, and motorists may experience delays in the area.

From Monday, Aug. 17, through Tuesday, Aug. 25, crews are scheduled to conduct pilot car operations each day from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the intersections of South Jefferson Street and East 4th Street, Washington Street and South Jefferson Street, and West 19th Street and South Jefferson Street.

A second phase of work is scheduled from Sunday, Sept. 6, through Thursday, Oct. 8, with pilot car operations planned daily from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on MO-33 from U.S. Route 69 to Holt for pavement resurfacing.

MoDOT reminds drivers to slow down and stay alert in work zones. Officials said work zones may vary in size and appearance, and can include short-term lane closures for quick repairs or debris removal.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Woman Arrested in Kearney After Alleged Smithville Lake Disturbance

A 49-year-old Kansas woman was arrested over the weekend after Kearney police say she fled the scene of a physical disturbance at Camp Branch Marina on Smithville Lake and was later stopped while allegedly driving impaired.

Photo Courtesy of Kearney Police Department.

According to Kearney police, officers were notified of the disturbance at the marina and learned that the female suspect had left the area in a vehicle headed toward Kearney. Minutes later, an officer located the vehicle on 92 Highway near Nation Road and conducted a traffic stop.

During the stop, police said the officer observed multiple signs of impairment. The driver failed standard field sobriety tests and later registered a blood alcohol concentration of .239%, nearly three times the legal limit.

Officers also reported finding open alcohol containers and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Police said the woman, who has three prior DWI convictions, was arrested on Kearney charges of felony aggravated DWI, careless and reckless driving, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After she was booked on those charges, she was turned over to Clay County Sheriff’s deputies for their investigation into the reported disturbance at Smithville Lake.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.