Hiram Receives Grant to Purchase Bulletproof Vests

Submitted by City of Hiram

Hiram received confirmation this week that it has been awarded a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase vests thanks to the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998.

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), was created by a unique U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to provide a critical resource to state and local law enforcement.

Since 1999, the BVP program has reimbursed more than 13,000 jurisdictions, a total of $375 million in federal funds for the purchase of over one million vests. BVP is a critical resource for state and local jurisdictions that saves lives.

Based on data collected and recorded by BJA staff, in FY 2012, protective vests were directly attributable to saving the lives of at least 33 law enforcement and corrections officers, in 20 different states, an increase 13.7% over FY 2011. At least 14 of those life-saving vests had been purchased, in part, with BVP funds.

The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to improving officer safety and has undertaken research to review and analyze violent encounters and law enforcement officer deaths and injuries. Due to the increase in the number of law enforcement officer deaths, coupled with our renewed efforts to improve officer safety, beginning with FY 2011, in order to receive BVP funds, jurisdictions must certify, during the application process, that all law enforcement agencies benefitting from the BVP Program have a written “mandatory wear” policy in effect.

The City of Hiram will be purchasing five replacement vests at a cost of $3,254. The BVP grant will cover 50% of this expenditure at $1,627 and the other 50% will be coming from the Local Government Risk Management Services (LGRMS).
The combination of these two grants allows the City of Hiram to acquire these life-saving vests at no cost to the City. Hiram is very appreciative of these two remarkable organizations that truly value the safety of our public safety professionals who serve our community.