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KY grant gives officers new layer of protection

By Cory Stark - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Noah Stubbs - email

HOPKINS CO., KY (WFIE) - An extra layer of protection is being provided to law enforcement agencies in Hopkins County thanks to grant money from the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security.

This year it was time to replace many bulletproof vests for officers in the Hopkins County Sheriff's Department and the Madisonville Police Department.

With both departments strapped for cash, grant money is a big help.

A bullet proof vest can mean life or death for an officer.

"That is the main thing, to have our vest on so we can go home to our families," Hopkins County Sherriff Deputy Ladon Logan says. 

The Hopkins County Sheriff's Department applied for a grant through the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security in the spring and was approved for the grant just a few months later.

Now every deputy has a new vest.

Older vests can still be used to deflect bullets, but police say it is better to have a new vest.

"The fibers start to break down, just from being up against your body, the sweat," dectective Shawn Bean says. "You can see that this one is worn and it begins to wrinkle and get dirty. And basically starts to break down a little bit."

Bulletproof vests have a five year shelf life and after that, manufacturers recommend replacing each vest.

The Madisonville Police Department was awarded $7,500 through the same Homeland Security grant.

That amount will buy 10 new vests.

"Without that funding it makes it more cumbersome on our budget when it comes to equipment so it assists us greatly," Major Shockley says. "So we don't have to take that from the local taxpayers, the police department has received the grant twice before."

Shockley says a new vest makes for a better officer.

"To be on top of your game, that it does what it is suppose to you need to switch it out every five years," Shockley says. 

The Madisonville Police Department will receive its new vests in about six weeks.

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