To help combat a wave of violence and the recent rise in shooting incidents involving children, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced he’s sending additional law enforcement officers to St. Louis.
Last week a 3-year-old boy in the city accidentally shot himself in the head and a 13-year-old boy was shot while walking through an apartment complex on the same day. Parson said troopers will work with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Strike Force, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Mission SAVE Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol and other local agencies.
The Republican governor said he’s sending a trooper “surge” to patrol four major Missouri highways, including I-70, to help arrest violent criminals using the interstates. This move, he said, will free up local officers to focus on known “high-crime” areas.