PERRYVILLE GETS AID FOR BULLETPROOF VESTS

PERRYVILLE -- Police officers in Perryville are set to receive some federal assistance in the purchase of bullet-resistant vests.

The Perryville Police Department has been awarded a $2,000 grant as part of the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership program. The program provides partial funding for police departments to purchase the vests.

That means that the department is getting about half of the total cost for replacing old vests this year.

All of the officers with the department have vests, but because of wear and tear, the vests need to be replaced periodically, said Maj. William Jones with the Perryville department.

"All of the vest manufacturers recommend that you switch them out every five years," Jones said.

The matching program was put into law in 1998 and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson was a co-sponsor of the legislation.

"I am pleased to see that the funds that will enable our law enforcement agencies to protect our neighborhoods, are finally reaching the areas where they are most needed," Emerson stated.