Local law-enforcement agencies receive grants for body armor

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 111 Indiana law-enforcement agencies will be awarded a total of $377,409 to help purchase ballistic or stab-resistant body armor.

“According to the National Institute of Justice, ballistic body armor has saved more than 3,000 police officers’ lives during the past three decades,” said Dave Murtaugh, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “The ICJI recognizes local agencies that met the requirements for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership matching grants and applied directly with the DOJ’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.”

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership gave funding priority to cities, towns and counties with less than 100,000 residents. The 50-50 matching funds reimburse the purchase of NIJ-compliant vests that are made in the United States and ordered after April 1, 2017. The local agencies must request reimbursement before Aug. 31, 2019.

Area agencies receiving grants are:

City of Columbus – $2,445.83
Town of Edinburgh  – $4,360.50
City of Franklin  – $15,315.84
City of Seymour  – $8,331.77
Town of New Whiteland  – $3,517.20
City of Greenwood  – $3,108.66
Shelby County  – $1,916.73
Scott County  – $1,274.61
Town of Brownstown  – $1,201.94
City of North Vernon  – $788.26
City of Greensburg  – $688.83