Three area police departments will receive federal grants to buy bulletproof vests.
Cattaraugus County will receive $6,764 to buy 19 vests, the village of Silver Creek will receive $1,750 to buy four vests and the village of Westfield will receive $3,850 to buy 11 vests through the U.S Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership, a program that splits the cost of new body armor with localities.
"The bottom line is that bullet proof vests save cops' lives and it is worth every penny of federal help to make sure cops on the beat have access to the very best equipment we have to offer. This critical funding will ensure that the police officers across Upstate New York who risk their lives every day are equipped with the resources necessary to protect themselves as they protect us," said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York. "Over 2,800 bulletproof vests will be provided to communities all throughout Upstate New York which will keep these law enforcement officials safe while they are protecting our communities."
"Our law enforcement risk their lives each day to keep our communities safe," said U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York. "It is our job to make sure that when they go into harm's way to fight crime, they have the right equipment to keep them safe. That's what this investment will do by providing law enforcement all across New York State with new bulletproof vests that can help save more lives."
The funding was authorized by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998. The initiative was designed to provide bulletproof vests to state and local law enforcement. Since 1999, the program has provided $277 million in federal money and 800,000 vests throughout the country.