City Council approves vote on police gear, aquatic facility design changes and state safety grant application

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The St. Joseph City Council passed bills to purchase gear for the St. Joseph police department, spending for the park sales tax for extra design work at Northside Aquatics and for the St. Joseph Police Department to apply for a state grant.

Council approved the purchase of new body armor and outer vest carriers for SJPD from 911 Customs. The gear will cost $26,867.12.

The City replaces the department's body armor every five years.

Paul Luster, SJPD Police Chief, said the manufacturer’s warranty for the body armor lasts five years.

"Of course, we do want to buy the vests in one year, so we have them spread out on that rotation. This is just the continuation of that project," Luster said.

Luster said the outer vest carriers from 911 Customs are of higher quality and more durable.

"We had officers do some wear tests with it before we awarded the contract," he said. "It's been proven to be more suitable. Absolutely make their job safer and more efficient when they are able to be provided with top-of-the-line equipment."

The council also approved spending from the Park Sales Tax funds to pay Confluence for extra design work on the Northside Aquatic Facilities. Confluence was hired in April 2024 to handle the design work.

The City decided to move the splash pad to a different site. The 66-year–old Krug Pool will be torn down, and the new splash pad will be built next to the existing pool site at the Northside Complex.

In addition to new safety vests, Council also approved SJPD to apply for a state grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation, Traffic and Highway Safety Division.

The grant includes Hazardous Moving Violations, Youth Alcohol Enforcement, DWI Saturation Patrol Enforcement and Motorcycle Safety and Education course.

If awarded, the grant, totaling $188,784, will run from Oct. 1, 2026, to Sept. 30, 2027. The application deadline is March 1, 2026.

At the next city council meeting, the council plans to discuss entering a Facility Use Agreement for the use of MWSU Thomas Eagleton Indoor Pool with Special Olympics Missouri.

Special Olympics Missouri would use the pool after the 2026 high school swim season until the first week of May 2026. After the 2027 high school swim season, until the first week of May 2027.

The next City Council meeting will be on Monday, March 2.