Schmitt Joins AG Blanche to Tout $68 Million Award for St. Louis Law Enforcement to Tackle Violent Crime

Schmitt Advocated for St. Louis to Receive Award Through DOJ’s Model Cities Initiative ST. LOUIS, MO — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) joined Attorney General Blanche in St. Louis to celebrate the $68 million award for local law enforcement through the Department of Justice’s Model Cities Initiative. The grant will help local law enforcement implement comprehensive, innovative crime-fighting solutions that will start in St. Louis and can be adapted and applied in cities across the nation. Schmitt advocated for St. Louis to be chosen for this program, and the grant will build on Schmitt’s successful work to crack down on crime in St. Louis and his ongoing efforts to keep Missouri communities safe. Download Schmitt’s remarks HERE. “I’m a proud St. Louisan, but for too long violent crime has tormented our communities and left families feeling unsafe. As Missouri’s Attorney General and now as a U.S. Senator, I have spent my career fighting for a safer Missouri, and I am so proud that St. Louis was one of the four cities chosen as part of the Model Cities Initiative to support our law enforcement officers and serve as an example for the rest of the nation. We’ve gotten far too used to seeing violence in our city’s headlines, but that doesn’t have to be our reality. I am grateful that President Trump, Attorney General Blanche, and the entire Trump Administration are focused on fighting crime, and I look forward to our continued efforts to make life better—and safer—in the Show-Me State,” said Senator Schmitt. “The Model Cities Initiative reflects the Trump Administration’s commitment to reducing crime across the country and ensuring the safety of every American,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These cities are setting an example of proactive law enforcement that will strengthen the rule of law and improve public safety in their jurisdictions. As violent crime rates continue to fall to historic lows, the Department of Justice is redoubling our efforts to invest in local communities and keep American families safe.” Background: Senator Schmitt worked closely with local stakeholders throughout the application process and held multiple calls and in-person meetings with Department of Justice leadership, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, to emphasize the importance of this funding to St. Louis and its public safety efforts. The investment aims to help St. Louis reduce violent crime, improve public safety, and build partnerships to help address the drivers of crime—and builds on Schmitt’s efforts to surge additional federal law enforcement resources to St. Louis, including a permanent increase in FBI personnel and other federal law enforcement surges like Operation Show Me Justice and Operation Viper, which resulted in the arrest of over 500 criminals. The funding will support investments in police recruitment, officer compensation and wellness, and police academy improvements, as well as upgrades to the Real-Time Crime Center, radio communications, and emergency response drones. It will also help replace police vehicles, provide ballistic shields for patrol cars, and establish a new citizen reporting portal. Additionally, the grant will expand community services through a law enforcement-led homeless outreach program, additional social workers and victim advocates, and partnerships supporting crisis intervention, treatment, and housing assistance. Alongside St. Louis, three other cities were selected to participate in the Model Cities Initiative: Jackson, MS; Jacksonville, FL; and Baton Rouge, LA. ###