Fear & Loading: Grant Funds Replacement Police Body Armor

by
posted on June 1, 2018
spirit_lede.jpg

Ryan T. Smith, executive director of Spirit of Blue (left) presented the Safety Equipment Grant of 13 ballistic vests to Chief Mark Lewis of the Cambridge Police Department (right) at the City of Cambridge Department of Public Safety Building. Behind are a number of the officers who received new vests through the grant.

Thirteen outdated Cambridge Police Department (MD) ballistic vests were replaced by body armor funded by a grant from the Spirit of Blue Foundation sponsored in partnership with Law Enforcement United. The new gear, valued at $20,969, is already in use by those who protect and serve area residents.

Body armor degrades with age, even if it’s never exposed to gunfire. Wear, environmental conditions, sunlight and other factors compromise effectiveness over time, and even though we all want law enforcement responding to our call for help to have the right gear, timely replacement is often financially impossible.

“I am extremely thankful to the Spirit of Blue Foundation for these ballistic vests,” said Cambridge Police Department Chief Mark Lewis. “It is so important that officers are equipped with the best possible gear, which will help keep them as safe as possible in the performance of their duties.”

“Every police officer in America simply needs effective and current body armor,” explained Ryan T. Smith, executive director of the Spirit of Blue Foundation. “When agencies are operating with extremely tight operating budgets, and they have to make tough choices about what safety equipment to fund, it puts them in a difficult position. We are pleased to be able to step in and replace these vests that are expiring so these officers have the confidence to do the valuable work they do in their community.”

Law Enforcement United (LEU), the grant’s sponsor, is an organization of 1,000 active and retired police officers who honor fallen officers and raise funds to assist charitable organizations that serve the law enforcement community. Each year members of the organization ride 250 miles or more into Washington, D.C., to participate in National Police Week events and carry flags in honor of each fallen officer, which are given to the surviving families upon their arrival. Since its founding in 2009, LEU has raised over $5,750,000 for law enforcement causes. 

Statistics released by the Officer Down Memorial Page show that 60 law enforcement officers have already lost their lives in 2018. The Spirit of Blue Foundation actively encourages the public at large to honor and appreciate law enforcement officers who serve to protect our communities. To learn more about the Spirit of Blue and help, visit the organization’s website.

Latest

Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical lever-action rifle left-side view shown with bipod in brown grass outdoors with Leupold riflescope attached.
Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical lever-action rifle left-side view shown with bipod in brown grass outdoors with Leupold riflescope attached.

Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical: A Tactically Practical Rimfire

Announced during "The Year Of The Lever-Action," Rossi's latest tactically themed lever-action rimfire rifle does not disappoint, offering up practical features front to back.

Online Safety Resources On Water & Fire Damage Released By SAAMI

“These important documents add to SAAMI’s technical library of firearm safety resources that provide guidance to both industry professionals and the firearm-owning community.”

Rifleman Review: Taurus TX22 Compact

A downsized version of Taurus USA's TX22 is available, giving folks a smaller, handier version of the full-size TX22 rimfire pistol that's become one of the company's most popular offerings.

New For 2025: Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9 mm Pistol

Recently, Springfield Armory added a large-format pistol variant of its Saint Victor 9 mm carbine, giving enthusiasts a compact PCC that feeds from Colt-pattern magazines.

The Rifleman Report: New Developments

Our official coverage of new products for the current year is set for next month, but we included two substantial new developments in this issue that have the potential to make significant ripples in the firearm business even before then.

Arkansas To Begin Mandatory Gun Safety Lessons In Schools

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law requiring public and open enrollment public charter schools to provide age-appropriate firearm safety instruction beginning during the 2025-2026 school year.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.