Bulletproof Backpacks Donated To Toms River Schools

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A Toms River security company has donated bulletproof backpacks to students in the Toms River Regional School District, a move in response to the mass shooting that killed 19 children at a Texas elementary school.

Kelly Conklin, a former Toms River police officer and Toms River schools graduate who founded a local security company, Superior Protection Professionals, made the donation of 20 armored backpacks last week.

"We started our company with the sole purpose of protecting people," Conklin said. The backpack donation was an outgrowth of that goal, he said.

The backpacks look like any other backpack, but have an armored plate in them that can stop 95 percent of the bullets fired at them.

"They increase your odds of survival in a potentially deadly encounter," Conklin said.

That's what he would like to see for kids in school: a way to protect themselves.

"We all want these horrific incidents to stop but it only appears to be getting worse unfortunately," Conklin said. "Not only is keeping students safe dear to our hearts, we have a special affinity for the Toms River schools, since me, my wife, and all 4 of our children went through the Toms River school system." He owns and operates Superior Protection Professionals with son Kelly Conklin Jr. serving as vice president. Son Michael is a field supervisor for the company.

The backpacks cost $150 each, and the armor is sewn into them. There also are soft armor plates that can be inserted into a backpack that slide into the sleeve for a laptop.

"If you hold the backpack in front of you and crouch down, it increases your odds of surviving a deadly encounter," Conklin said.

Conklin is hopeful that schools, employers and people in general will see these backpacks as a vital tool for protecting students, employees and themselves from potential violence.

Toms River Schools officials said they were grateful for the donation of the 20 backpacks, saying it was "an impactful gesture that will benefit our students, providing them specialty backpacks which will serve them well on the educational journey."

The backpacks were going to be distributed to students taking part in the district's TR United program, which works with the Toms River Police Department to promote positive mental health support and leadership, said Michael Kenny, a spokesman for the district. Some of the backpacks were to be given to students in need in the elementary schools, he said.

"We sincerely thank the Conklins and SPP for turning their commitment to our community into action, and for providing tangible resources to our students," the district said.

"If we save the life of one person it makes all that time worth it. Each life is that valuable," Conklin said.

Conklin said anyone interested in the backpacks can find them on the Superior Protection Professionals website.