Grant Will Help Purchase Bulletproof Vests For Police

By Andrew Gorosko

US Representative James Maloney announced on May 18 that Newtown will receive more than $7,300 in federal grant funds from the US Department of Justice to buy body armor for its police officers.

Mr Maloney announced the bulletproof vest grant in ceremonies at the police station conference room.

The federal grant program provides up to 50 percent funding for the purchase of body armor for law enforcement agencies. Mr Maloney is a co-sponsor of federal legislation that created the body armor funding program.

 “I am delighted to announce that Newtown has received funding for its bulletproof vest partnership program. Bulletproof vests are one major component of ensuring the safety of the men and women who keep our neighborhoods and communities safe,” he said in prepared statement.

“These officers help to keep us safe. This is the least we can do to make sure they are kept safe in the line of duty,” he said.

The body armor has technologically advanced protective features, he said, adding that the vests are lighter and less physically restrictive than the vests which police wore previously.

The risk of dying from a shooting is 14 times greater for police not wearing body armor than for those wearing such protection, according to the FBI.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe said the town has already purchased new bulletproof vests for all police officers. There are 42 sworn officers. Each vest costs about $500. The grant announced by Mr Maloney will be used toward those vest purchases, Chief Kehoe said. Federal grant funding for such local purchases is provided in increments, Chief Kehoe said.

Chief Kehoe said about two-thirds of the town’s 42 police officers regularly wear body armor while on duty. Each officer has a modern vest, and it is his or her decision whether to wear the vest, he said.

Each officer is measured for a vest, which is then assembled for him or her. The new black vests are lighter, more comfortable and more durable than those police have worn in the past. The new vests are more resistant to gunfire than the vests police previously wore.

A vest affords a measure of protection to a police officer’s torso, but it does not protect the entire body from injury.

In determining what type of bulletproof vests to acquire, police decided they wanted lightweight, thin vests which are comfortable and easily concealable, and which pose minimum restrictions on their motion and mobility.