Kendall County Sheriff's Office Receives Safety Grant

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a safety grant from the Insurance Program Managers Group (IPMG). IPMG is the insurance provider for Kendall County. The grant award is for approximately $4,200 which will cover 50 percent of the cost towards the purchase of three ballistic shields and YakTrax safety shoe covers.

The ballistic shields will provide deputies a greater level of protection when responding to dangerous calls that require a rapid response from law enforcement for armed and combative subjects.

“By having the ballistic shields out on the street when deputies are patrolling, the shields provide a greater level of protection when an immediate response is required to violent and dangerous situations,” said Sheriff Dwight A. Baird.

The YakTrax safety shoe covers with slip resistant treads will be issued to personnel required to provide public safety services in icy and inclement weather. During previous winters, the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office had numerous slip and falls contributed to icy conditions. The slips and falls resulted in four deputies becoming injured, two of which required surgery. These four incidents cost the County approximately $295,000. The purchase of the Yak Trax will help minimize and reduce the possibility of future slips and falls by deputies.

“We are always looking at ways to reduce work related injuries and we feel by providing these slip resistant treads for our deputies’ shoes it can help,” Baird said. ” I am very pleased to receive the safety grant from IPMG, which will be used to make a safer work environment for our deputies.”