Congressman Stephen F. Lynch today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice awarded federal funding to the following police departments in the Ninth Congressional District for the purchase of new bulletproof vests: 

TOWN                        AWARD         # VESTS

Avon                            $7,425             18 vests

Boston                          $49,116           604 vests

Braintree                       $1,600             4 vests

Bridgewater                  $900                2 vests

Brockton                      $41,625           111 vests

Canton                         $4,400             11 vests

Dedham                        $3,674.25        9 vests

E. Bridgewater              $1,050             3 vests

Holbrook                      $1,812.50        5 vests

Needham                      $5,625             15 vests

W. Bridgewater            $8,137.50         21 vests

Westwood                    $6,237             27 vests

Whitman                       $9,800             28 vests

In total, 13 cities and towns in Congressman Lynch’s District received funding through the Fiscal Year 2006 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program. 

Congressman Lynch said, “According to the National Association of Police Organizations, almost 3,000 law enforcement officers have survived shootings thanks to bulletproof vests.  We know that body armor saves lives, period.  The problem that many towns and cities face, in our districts and across the nation, is that of cost.  I have the benefit of working with our talented Police and Fire Chiefs, as well as local officials, to provide the tools that our Police and Fire Departments need to do their job safely and effectively. Thanks to this federal funding, these Police Departments will be able to afford state-of-the-art, life-saving equipment for their police officers.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a separate measure offered by Congressman Lynch to increase funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) by $12 million.  Lynch’s amendment was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, and if the bill is signed into law by President Bush, the additional funding will become available in Fiscal Year 2007.

Lynch’s amendment was supported by the National Association of Police Organizations, which represents 238,000 rank-and-file police officers from across the United States, and the Fraternal Order of Police, which represents 324,000 members.

Thomas Nee, President of both the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association and the National Association of Police Organizations, said, “I want to thank Congressman Lynch for his continued leadership and for his unwavering support of America’s law enforcement community.  Congressman Lynch’s amendment will provide the resources police officers need to defend themselves against the deadly assaults that have become far too commonplace in America.”

William Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations, said, “On behalf of rank-and-file law enforcement officers from across the United States, NAPO thanks Congressman Lynch for his effective leadership on this vital issue.  Because of Stephen Lynch's commitment to America's police, our brother and sister officers are safer today.” 

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 is a unique U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to provide a critical resource to state and local law enforcement.  Since 1999, over 11,900 jurisdictions have participated in the BVP Program, with $173 million in federal funds committed to support the purchase of an estimated 450,000 vests. The Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the BVP Program.

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