Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly recently announced his support for the bipartisan Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act, which would extend through 2020 a program that helps local law enforcement agencies purchase bulletproof vests.
Donnelly said, “The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program is important to state and local law enforcement in Indiana. Law enforcement officers can face very dangerous situations while serving in the line of duty, and these protective vests can help prevent injury and even save lives. I am proud to support bipartisan legislation that would extend the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program to continue to help in the purchasing of this life-saving equipment and hope the Senate will consider and pass this bill soon.”
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program is administered by the Department of Justice, and the grants awarded provide matching funds to local law enforcement for protective vests. This legislation would improve the grant program by incentivizing agencies to purchase vests that are individually fitted for officers. Having a bulletproof vest that fits well is important to providing the best protection to law enforcement officers.
Since 1999, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant program has helped more than 13,000 local law enforcement agencies around the country purchase more than 1.1 million vests. In Fiscal Year 2014, Indiana law enforcement agencies received $482,083 through the program, which helped 108 communities to purchase vests. The Bourbon Police Department received $1,158.39 for the purchase of 4 vests and the Plymouth Police Department received $3,111.37 purchasing 10 vests. In 2013, Indiana law enforcement agencies were awarded $451,161 for vests.
