APD gets body armor for use with countywide unit

The Athens Police Department has received five new protective vests for officers who are part of a countywide law-enforcement unit that responds to high-risk situations.To get more news about hard bulletproof vest, you can visit bulletproofboxs.com official website.

However, thanks to a state grant, the cost to the city will be about $4,200, according to APD Capt. Ralph Harvey. The city is required to cover 25% of the bill to get the grant funds.

We received five vests for the five APD officers that are part of the county wide SRT (Special Response Team),” said Harvey.

The SRT includes members of the Athens and Nelsonville police departments and the Athens County Sheriff’s Office. The team responds to hostage situations, high-risk drug warrants, terrorist threats and attacks, and other such incidents.

The new vests are “tactical vests” and are worn over clothing, not concealed under a uniform shirt like the regular protective vests that are worn every day by Athens officers. And the tactical vests are constructed differently.

“I am not at liberty to say how (they are different) as I feel that could compromise officer safety,” Harvey said. “The regular vests’ costs are usually reimbursed with a different, federal grant that is available each year for these types of vests.”

The vests are replaced on a schedule based on the manufacturer’s service-life recommendation.

“As to what happens to old vests, some are used for training, ammunition testing or demonstrations,” Harvey said. “Once they have surpassed the recommended service life, they are not useable for protective purposes.”

Reportedly, the state recently made more money available for body-armor grants because of high demand, upping total funding to $3.5 million. Only law-enforcement agencies that pay Bureau of Workers Compensation premiums are eligible for the grant program created last year.

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office uses a grant to help pay for bulletproof vests, too. But “we get all our money through the DOJ (U.S. Department of Justice) and Bulletproof Vest Partnership,” said Sheriff’s Office Fiscal Officer Makina Milum.