The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office needs forty new bullet proof vests, but that’ll come with a $40,000 price tag.
Morgan County Sheriff’s Office PIO, Mike Swafford, said, “Usually we would have to replace four or five at a time or as a new officer comes, but prior to Sheriff Puckett arriving roughly five years ago, they purchased a large quantity at one time.”
Their current vests are outdated and are actually expiring this year. The sheriff’s office plans to buy newer, outer carrier vests which can help to prevent back and hip injuries.
“A lot of retired law enforcement officers will tell you, ‘my back hurts’ just from all those years of sitting in a patrol car carrying that extra weight on them,” said Swafford. “With the new vests, it’s called an outer carrier. They have the ability to attach things to it which then removes it from their waist and puts the weight on their shoulders, so our guys are looking forward to having that and just saving their back.”
With the recent violence toward law enforcement here in Alabama, Swafford says protecting deputies is more important than ever.
Swafford said, “Whether it’s serving papers, serving a warrant, checking on someone who is dealing with an emotional mental illness, those are all dangerous elements that can happen, and what the vest does is give them some confidence that I am as protected as I can be when walking into the unknown.”
They have applied for grants and are working with the county commission to help pay for the vests.
The do also take donations. If you want to help, you can call the sheriff’s office at (256) 351-4800.
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