Cape Girardeau police recognized for security efforts during 2026 FIFA World Cup

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — The Cape Girardeau Police Department is receiving recognition for its role in providing security during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City, Missouri.

The department recently received a letter of appreciation from Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves, recognizing its support and commitment during the international event.

Two Cape Girardeau officers, Public Information Officer Bobby Newton and Cpl. Richard Couch, traveled to Kansas City to assist with security operations during the tournament.

“We sent two officers up to work the World Cup. So we spent some time at the FanFest providing security there, and then also at one of the matches, we provided security there as well,” Newton said.

In her letter to Cape Girardeau Police Chief Adam Glueck, Graves praised the department’s contributions to the event, which required extensive coordination among law enforcement and public safety agencies.

“Your willingness to stand alongside us contributed directly to the success of this unprecedented public safety effort,” Graves wrote.

The letter also highlighted the challenges of securing an event of this magnitude, from crowd management and transportation to emergency response and public safety.

While the officers assisted in Kansas City, Newton said their absence did not affect regular police patrols in Cape Girardeau.

“We’re not everyday patrol officers on the streets, so fortunately, we did not have to take any staffing off the streets in order for us to participate in that as well,” Newton said.

The trip also came at no cost to Cape Girardeau taxpayers. Newton said Kansas City reimbursed the officers’ salaries and travel expenses.

Beyond assisting with World Cup security, Newton said the experience provided an opportunity to learn how other departments coordinate safety measures for large-scale events.

“You know, it was a great experience for us as officers to be there, to be present and be able to see how a large-scale event like that takes place,” Newton said. “The security measures they take, and then working alongside all the other officers from really across the state.”

Those lessons are already making an impact closer to home.

Newton said the department brought back security ideas from Kansas City and implemented some of them during this year’s fair.

“Something that we learned while we were there, we brought back. We actually implemented some of the ideas here at fair this year. And that was one of our main goals for being able to go,” Newton said.

The department hopes to continue applying those lessons to improve security at future community events.

“We wanted to be able to provide ideas back to the city for different events that we may host, to where we can provide better security as well,” Newton said.

In its public announcement, the Cape Girardeau Police Department thanked Kansas City police for the recognition and expressed pride in representing the community on an international stage.