Blue Springs, Mo. – On November 9 at 6 p.m., the Blue Springs Police Department and the Blue Springs Public Safety Citizens’ Advisory Board will host its second annual public forum to discuss a series of issues related to public safety in Blue Springs. The forum will take place at the Howard L. Brown Public Safety Building, 1100 SW Smith St. and is open to the public. This meeting marks the third public meeting, including the original Mayor’s Task force meeting, in effort to increase resident-police partnerships in the community.
Advisory Board Chairman Tom Echerd will preside at the forum and encourages any interested persons to attend. “We hope residents will come to the forum and actively participate in a positive way. These meetings represent the Board’s ongoing efforts to keep residents informed and engaged in the activities of our Blue Springs Police Department,” said Echerd.
At a recent meeting, the Board established the following topics that are of great interest to the community and will be on the agenda for the November 9 public forum:
• What changes in staffing, facilities, equipment or technology would you like the Blue Springs Police Department to consider to better meet the present and future public safety needs of our community?
• The Blue Springs Police Department has made a concerted effort to increase visibility in neighborhoods. What improvements, if any, have you seen in the past 12 to 36 month period, and what additional suggestions do you have?
• What changes in coverage or services provided by our Animal Control Unit would you like to see?
• What other issues or topics related to public safety should be addressed by the Public Safety Citizen’s Advisory Board?
“I encourage all residents to come and provide any input they may have. It is through the community’s partnership with the Blue Springs Police Department that we will be able to create and maintain the safest community possible,” Blue Springs Police Chief Wayne McCoy said. “We value everyone’s input; by working together we can celebrate our successes while gaining an understanding of those areas where residents feel we can do better.”
About the Blue Springs Public Safety Citizens’ Advisory Board
The Blue Springs Public Safety Citizens’ Advisory Board was created by City Ordinance in August 2009 as a recommendation of the Mayor-appointed Public Safety Advisory Task Force. The six-member board is comprised of two residents from each City Council District, along with non-voting ex officio members that include representatives from the Blue Springs Police Department, City Council and a student from the Blue Springs School District. The Board has met monthly since its inaugural meeting in August, 2009.