Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones traveled to Jefferson City Monday for a closed meeting with Governor Mike Parson. The governor and police chief are trying to find better ways to recruit young people for law enforcement positions.

Parson and Jones discussed possible solutions for a shortage in Missouri’s law enforcement workforce through education at high schools. Columbia voters approved a use tax earlier this month, which is expected to generate $5.6 million annually in additional revenue.

The use tax could fund and maintain 8 new Columbia police officers.

Parson and Jones said Missouri needs more law enforcement programs for teenagers like the ones at Columbia Public Schools Career Center to help fill positions at police departments.

Jones said, “It was just a conversation to throw ideas out. It was a preliminary conversation. It was a good conversation. I think everybody had good ideas to figure out how they fit in.”

Parson said the main goal is teaching the next generation about the importance of law enforcement and keeping people safe.

Parson said, “We’re trying to figure out when once you get these kids through this training, how do you get them from the training to the street. There’s a delay in the age requirement. We’re trying to figure out what do we do with a kid coming out of high school so he can actually go out on the streets and find them some different activities for them to do and maybe keep them in law-enforcement.”