Working together to better the community.
Police Department
Mission Statement: We will enhance public safety and improve the quality of life in Willard by exemplifying our values of professionalism and dedication through the use of partnerships, creative problem solving and innovative police strategies. This can be summarized as follows:
- Help people
- Enforce the law
- Lead by example
- Prevent crime
The City of Willard Police Department has established a great working relationship with the community. The community's ideas and values reflect on the Police Department and how it functions. City government believes in the "community" (all parts and aspects of the community) and with this a strong working environment with the Police Department. This creates a positive working environment with the community and therefore enhances the quality of life in Willard.
The Willard Police Department strongly believes and is actively involved in the concept of "Community Oriented Policing". The Police Department strives for a proactive response to crime and looks toward community involvement in order to function effectively.
The Police Department is located at 795 Hughes Road and operates twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week. Administrative office hours are Mon- Fri 8AM to 4:30PM. The Police Station was dedicated in May 2002 as the "Joe L. Cosby Law Enforcement Justice Center."
Along with the Uniformed Patrol Division (comprised of 10 full time Police Officers, 2 Civilian Employees, 6 Reserve Police Officers and 2 School Resource Officers who are commissioned by the Department but receive their pay and benefits from the Willard School District), the Police Department has two (2) certified investigators, a D.A.R.E Program and the Police Athletic League (PAL Program).
Contact information for the Police Department is as follows:
chiefofpolice@cityofwillard.org
police@cityofwillard.org
Phone: (417) 742-3033 opt 5340
Fax: (417) 742-4710
Emergency: 911
The Willard Police Department strongly believes and is actively involved in the concept of "Community Oriented Policing". The Police Department strives for a proactive response to crime and looks toward community involvement in order to function effectively.
The Police Department is located at 795 Hughes Road and operates twenty-four (24) hours a day seven (7) days a week. Administrative office hours are Mon- Fri 8AM to 4:30PM. The Police Station was dedicated in May 2002 as the "Joe L. Cosby Law Enforcement Justice Center."
Along with the Uniformed Patrol Division (comprised of 10 full time Police Officers, 2 Civilian Employees, 6 Reserve Police Officers and 2 School Resource Officers who are commissioned by the Department but receive their pay and benefits from the Willard School District), the Police Department has two (2) certified investigators, a D.A.R.E Program and the Police Athletic League (PAL Program).
Contact information for the Police Department is as follows:
chiefofpolice@cityofwillard.org
police@cityofwillard.org
Phone: (417) 742-3033 opt 5340
Fax: (417) 742-4710
Emergency: 911
2022 DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 08/12/2022
CONTACT: Thomas McClain, Chief of Police Willard, MO – Chiefofpolice@cityofwillard.org
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
The Results of Drunk Driving Could Be Crushing
Willard, Missouri — During the Labor Day holiday, including the end of summertime and the busy Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working alongside the law enforcement community in Willard to decrease impaired driving. From August 19 through September 5, The Willard Police Department will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during this time to take drunk drivers off the roads. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of the season this year, make sure you plan it safely.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why the Willard Police Department is working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but also a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Chief Thomas McClain. “We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe summertime and Labor Day holiday. This is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives.
During the 2020 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 4 – 5:59 a.m. September 8), there were 530 crash fatalities nationwide. Forty-six percent of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking (.01+ BAC). More than one-third (38%) of the fatalities involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ BAC), and one-fourth (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among drivers between the ages of 21 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2020, 44% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
The Willard Police Department and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. “Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior, especially when there are so many safe alternatives to get you home safely,” said Chief McClain.
The Willard Police Department recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.
The Results of Drunk Driving Could Be Crushing
Willard, Missouri — During the Labor Day holiday, including the end of summertime and the busy Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working alongside the law enforcement community in Willard to decrease impaired driving. From August 19 through September 5, The Willard Police Department will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period. In support of the law enforcement community’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you’ll see officers working together during this time to take drunk drivers off the roads. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of the season this year, make sure you plan it safely.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why the Willard Police Department is working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but also a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Chief Thomas McClain. “We need commitment from our community members that they’ll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe summertime and Labor Day holiday. This is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives.
During the 2020 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 4 – 5:59 a.m. September 8), there were 530 crash fatalities nationwide. Forty-six percent of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking (.01+ BAC). More than one-third (38%) of the fatalities involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ BAC), and one-fourth (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among drivers between the ages of 21 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2020, 44% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
The Willard Police Department and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. “Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior, especially when there are so many safe alternatives to get you home safely,” said Chief McClain.
The Willard Police Department recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
- Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had only one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
- If available, use your community’s sober ride program.
- If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact 911.
- Do you have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and make arrangements to get your friend home safely.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.