Police Receive Grant for New Bulletproof Vests

The Clayton Police Department has been awarded a $4,500 "Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP)" grant from the US Bureau of Justice Assistance to replace vests that are reaching the end of their service life.

The money will pay for about nine vests, which have a service life of five years.

"The Department issues vests to every officer and replaces the equipment when it reaches the end of its useful life," said Captain R. W. Bridges, "so this grant program is very helpful. We consider the safety of our employees of paramount importance, and view this funding opportunity as a very important tool."

The Department has received more than $6,000 in BVP grant funds in previous years.

The Partnership was created in 1999 to assist state and local law enforcement agencies with officer safety. Since then, almost a half million vests have been bought for more than 11,900 law enforcement agencies across the county, including the Clayton police.