Justice Department Awards St. Louis more than $68M to Combat Violent Crime and Restore Law and Order Through Model Cities Initiative

Today, the Justice Department awarded St. Louis, Missouri, more than $68 million through its Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a flagship effort to reduce violent crime, restore law and order, and strengthen public safety in communities across the country.  

 "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."

St. Louis was selected, in large part, because of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's (SLMPD) significant progress in reducing violent crime through data-driven policing, innovative technology, and strong partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies. The department has reported year-to-date reductions of 21% in homicides, 25% in robberies, 14% in auto thefts, and 22% in juvenile shootings. Under the leadership of Police Commissioner Robert Tracy, SLMPD has expanded its use of advanced technologies, including gunshot detection systems and drones, to strengthen investigative capabilities, improve situational awareness, and enhance emergency response times.

"All Missouri families deserve to feel safe in their communities, and strengthening public safety in St. Louis is critical to the success and prosperity of our entire state," said Governor Mike Kehoe of Missouri. "We were proud to partner with the Trump Administration in securing this game-changing investment that will strengthen efforts to crack down on violent crime and support the brave men and women in law enforcement."

"I'm a proud St. Louisan, but for too long violent crime has tormented our communities and left families feeling unsafe," said Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri. "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."

"This federal investment in public safety strengthens our hand in the fight against violent crime in St. Louis, and it supports the work of those who do that job every day," said Missouri Attorney General Hanaway. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, who carry the responsibility of placing themselves between our communities and harm with courage and resolve. "This public safety effort represents our unified commitment to hold violent offenders accountable, strengthen public confidence, and build a safer St. Louis for every family."

"The progress we've made in reducing violent crime belongs to our officers, our law enforcement partners and the St. Louis residents who work alongside us," said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Robert J. Tracy. "I'm grateful to Attorney General Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice for investing in that work. This funding will help us recruit and retain officers, give them better information when they respond to emergencies and equip detectives to solve more violent crimes. Our goal is to improve quality of life in every neighborhood and make St. Louis a safer city for all."

Through the Model Cities Initiative, St. Louis aims to build on this momentum by further expanding its use of cutting-edge public safety technologies, strengthening officer recruitment and retention efforts, and enhancing coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Proposed investments include doubling the department's drone fleet, expanding gunshot detection coverage, modernizing its Real-Time Crime Center, and providing additional equipment and resources to frontline officers. Collectively, these efforts are intended to create a sustainable and replicable model for reducing violent crime, enhancing public safety, and improving the quality of life for St. Louis residents.

The MCI takes a whole-of-city approach to public safety, bringing together law enforcement agencies, local government officials, and community partners to develop comprehensive strategies that address the unique public safety challenges facing their communities. The applications submitted by the four selected jurisdictions exemplified the innovative, forward-thinking approaches the Department sought through the initiative.  

While each jurisdiction faces unique public safety challenges and brings different priorities, resources, and starting points to the initiative, the Department is confident in the strength of their proposals and their commitment to achieving meaningful results. Despite differing approaches, all four jurisdictions demonstrated a shared determination to reduce violent crime and make their communities safer.  

Through the initiative, the Justice Department will work with each jurisdiction to finalize and implement its public safety plan. Funding will support a range of priorities, including hiring sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and other personnel to support enforcement, prosecution, and related public safety activities; adopting new and improved technology; purchasing or leasing equipment; enhancing forensic capabilities and capacity; and providing services to address mental health and substance use issues and reduce recidivism. 

The Justice Department announced the Model Cities Initiative in June 2026 to build on early successes in jurisdictions such as Memphis, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C., in reducing violence, crime, and disorder. The initiative directs nearly $300 million in federal resources toward comprehensive public safety strategies that strengthen law enforcement, improve coordination among public safety partners, and address the factors contributing to crime and recidivism. 

Through these investments, the Justice Department will work alongside local partners to implement sustainable public safety solutions and deliver measurable results. The four Model Cities will help advance the Administration's efforts to reject the status quo of allowing crime and disorder to go unchecked and restore law, order, and safety to communities across the nation. 

Jacksonville, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have additionally been selected to receive federal investments supporting innovative, comprehensive, locally driven strategies to combat crime and enhance coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. 

The specific departments funded are: 

• Baton Rouge - East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana; 
• Jackson - City of Jackson, Mississippi; 
• Jacksonville - City of Jacksonville Sheriff's Office; and 
• St. Louis - St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.