Law Enforcement

SPRINGFIELD -- Greene County voters on Tuesday approved, by a 2-1 margin, an 1/8-cent sales tax to fund law enforcement and judicial needs in the county. The last time voters approved a tax for law enforcement in Greene County was in 1997; voters turned down similar measures in 2004 and in 2005. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said he was overwhelmed by the resounding approval from voters. "You think you have it, but you don't know until it happens. It's a great feeling, it really is, because people are sending us a message, and we're sending one back that we're going to do what you ask, we're going to be accountable with the money," said Sheriff Arnott.

SPRINGFIELD, --It's a way to make sure your children are protected if the worst was to happen. It's called the MoCHIP program. Parents say it gives them peace of mind if the unthinkable were to take place. It's a proactive way to make sure your children's identification is available if they were to disappear. Dozens of parents brought their children to Pathways United Methodist Church on Dale Street. The process only takes about 15 minutes. There are four stations for children to go through.  They get their height and weight documented.  Volunteers also collected finger prints and dental impressions.

Springfield, MO - Captain Juan Villanueva, commanding officer of Troop D, Springfield, announces the results of an enforcement saturation conducted on July 14, 2012, on and around the Niangua River, in Dallas and Laclede counties. Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, along with officers of the Missouri Department of Conservation, made the following enforcement contacts: 2--felony drug arrests 3--misdemeanor drug violations 8--minor in possession violations 1--supplying alcohol to a minor violation 1--all-terrain motor vehicle summons 1--misdemeanor warrant arrest 12--non-moving summonses "The Missouri State Highway Patrol continues to ensure that Missouri's waterways are safe and enjoyable to the public.

The death toll from the EF5 tornado in Joplin is now up to 151; that's up from the latest count of 141. Thursday, along with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, the Department of Homeland Security's Secretary Janet Napolitano visited Joplin. Napolitano toured the makeshift St. John's Hospital, a nearby neighborhood and the emergency operations center in Joplin.  Afterwards, her message was identical to the President's almost two weeks earlier. "We will be in Joplin for the long haul," Napolitano said.

Welcome to column number ten for 2011, another column that I was not supposed to write because I was not here this past week. Oops! So here I am once again on short notice in an effort to put together another column. As I am sure most of you remember I was to attend the Missouri Sheriff’s Association winter training conference this past week and since this action is demanded by Missouri statute I went to class like a good boy. In my absence Capt. Bill Anderson was supposed to write this column.

SPRINGFIELD -- Educating citizens about the law enforcement tax.  The Greene County sheriff along with a group of about 100 others went door-to-door Saturday in Springfield, to let residents know why they should vote for the one-eighth law enforcement tax. Sheriff Jim Arnott says if it passes it will help to fill gaps, not only on the officer side, but also in the prosecutors office and throughout the justice system. But, the biggest point the group is working to drive home, if the tax passes it won't cost citizens anything.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Springfield City Council is considering a measure to crack down on the growing number of arson fires. Law enforcement and fire department officials from Greene County would lead the group. Part of their responsibility will include investigating arson fires. In the last six years, there have been 467 intentionally set fires in Springfield. They've resulted in property loss of more than $5 million. The public will be allowed to comment on the proposal at tonight's meeting.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon ordered that the flag of the United States and the flag of Missouri be flown at half-staff at all government buildings statewide on June 8 from sunrise to sunset to honor Riverside Police Master Patrolman Jefferson “Jeff” Taylor. On May 23, Taylor went to Joplin with a 12-member contingent of police officers, firefighters and public works staff members from Riverside to help after the tornado.  Taylor, 31, died last Friday from injuries sustained when lightning struck near him on May 23 in Joplin.  Taylor began his career in law enforcement in 2001 with the Webb City Police Department.  He graduated from the Missouri Southern Law Enforcement Academy in May 2001.

An online attack against dozens of law enforcement agencies has left some officials wondering whether they'll be able to ward off future hacking attempts.  The Missouri Sheriff's Association says the hackers stole hundreds of police academy training files, the names of people who provided anonymous crime tips to police, jail inmates databases, and arrest warrants.  The group, only known as "anonymous", also hacked into several other law enforcement agency's...

RED BANK, Mo. -- Law enforcement officers are investigating a fatal shooting by a law enforcement officer in a remote area of western Douglas County on Thursday morning.  The Missouri Highway Patrol sasy David Leroy Phillips, 41, of Hillsdale, Illinois was shot by an officer with the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.  A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman say the shooting was about 10 a.m. After the shooting, a woman ran into the woods. ...

BARRY COUNTY, Mo --  On Tuesday, voters in Barry County will decide on a sales tax for law enforcement. It's one-eighth of a cent sales tax that the sheriff says would generated $450 thousand dollars. That's money he says the department needs to play catch up from hard times. The slogan is to Protect and Serve but due to budget cuts Justin Ruark couldn't do that. "Last year they ran short on funding. Laid four of us off, I was one of the four," he said. He got his job back, but he'd like to see the other deputies return.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Springfield City Council is considering a measure to crack down on the growing number of arson fires. Law enforcement and fire department officials from Greene County would lead the group. Part of their responsibility will include investigating arson fires. In the last six years, there have been 467 intentionally set fires in Springfield. They've resulted in property loss of more than $5 million. The public will be allowed to comment on the proposal at tonight's meeting.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Unmanned aircraft have been helping fight wars for years, and now the technology is being used in the civilian world. Jake Wynant may have been controlling his plane on Friday,  but he stayed on the ground as his aircraft headed for the sky.  Wynant owns Wingnut Aerial Video Systems .  His company uses a remote-controlled helicopter in movies and commercial production. "It's not cheap, when you are flying something that costs more than your house. " Unmanned aircraft are doing more than just making movies in the Ozarks.

MT. VERNON, Mo. - Farmers in Lawrence County are fed up with having to fear crooks that are tar getting their livelihoods. Rustlers have hit farms in the county twice in recent weeks, first stealing 8 head from one pasture.  Then, they hit another farm in Marionville, taking 27 cattle. "Is basically our turn.  We kind of see the cattle rustlers go in a circuit where they bounce from county to county," said Brad Delay, the sheriff of Lawrence County. "For anyone with cattle it is very much a serious matter," explained Sam Shawman, a concerned farmer.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield Public Schools leaders say they are taking extra precautions to protect students at Kickapoo High School following a bomb threat on Thursday. The district is working with law enforcement to determine whether the threat discovered at the school is not a hoax.  The following is a phone message that was sent to Kickapoo High School parents Thursday. Today a message was found in a restroom at Kickapoo High School threatening to blow up the building on Feb. 8. School staff and district administrators are taking every reasonable measure to determine whether this threat may be a hoax and that all appropriate local authorities have been notified.

MT. VERNON, Mo.-- Law enforcement will be meeting with cattle farmers on February 7th to discuss a recent rash of cattle thefts in the Lawrence County area. Several farms have been targeted in recent weeks. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 7th at the University of Missouri Research Center located on Highway H just south of Mt. Vernon. The meeting begins at 7:00 pm. Representatives from the county sheriffs' offices will be on hand, as well as members of the Missouri Highway Patrol and prosecutors from Lawrence and Dade County.

Jefferson City - The Missouri State Highway Patrol, a premiere law enforcement agency, is testing for new troopers. The Patrol is encouraging qualified individuals of all backgrounds to apply, and will offer testing at nine different locations in Missouri. Those who successfully complete testing will be eligible to continue in the selection process for the 98th Recruit Class, scheduled to begin training on January 2, 2014. The application deadline is March 28, 2013.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Below is a collection of information about what was said and signed Wednesday by Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama: The transcript of the Vice President and President's addresses on Wednesday is HERE. The legislative ideas proposed to Congress are: 1. Require criminal background checks for all gun sales. (a.k.a. closing the "gun show loophole. ") 2. Reinstate and strengthen the assault weapons ban. 3.  Restore the 10-round limit on ammunition magazines.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Dickinson was nominated by President Obama in July 2012 and confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 1, 2013. She took the oath of office late yesterday from U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, the former U.S. Attorney. “I'm honored to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri,” said Dickinson. “I would like to thank President Obama, Congress, and especially Senators McCaskill and Blunt for their support.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County's sheriff has a chilling reminder in light of the shootings in Sandy Hook, Conn. "Most definitely, this could happen here.  We are just one incident away from it happening here," said Sheriff Jim Arnott. Law enforcement has long been preparing for the off-chance the “what-if” happens here.  However, the sheriff admits more needs to be done to keep our classrooms and kids safe. "I have a lot of concerns about it.  There are a lot of things; just like anything, we are all under-funded," Arnott said.