FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
CONTACT: Ian Koski at 202-224-4216

Senator Coons teams up with Dover police Sgt. David Spicer to support the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program

Event in Capitol marks purchase of the millionth bulletproof vest purchased through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, stood with Dover police Sgt. David Spicer at an event in the Capitol on Tuesday to mark the purchase of the one-millionth bulletproof vest by a law enforcement officer under the federal Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. Senator Coons, who is an original cosponsor of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act, called on his Senate colleagues who are blocking the program’s reauthorization to drop their holds and allow the important program to continue.

"Police officers look out for our communities and our families every day, risking their own safety to do so," Senator Coons said. "We need to look out for them, too, and should be doing all we can to ensure they have the tools and resources to do their jobs safely. I saw firsthand as a county executive that the federal government can be a critical partner in protecting our police officers, especially for officers working in smaller communities where the purchase of modern body armor can be prohibitively expensive. The Bulletproof Vest Partnership has saved the lives of thousands of law enforcement officers and absolutely should be reauthorized."

Senator Coons and Sgt. Spicer were joined at the event by Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy, Fraternal Order of Police President Chuck Canterbury, Chief Bernadette DiPino of the Sarasota, FL Police Department, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General James Burch.

“Today, an officer’s bulletproof vest is a piece of equipment as indispensable as a side arm and radio,” Senator Leahy said. “This program has helped to bring about the increase in the awareness and use of this lifesaving equipment.  Police work is hard work, and often it also is dangerous work.  These brave officers protect our communities, and these vests help protect them.  Today there are at least a million reasons for Americans to feel good about what they have done to help protect our law enforcers.  This is a milestone that speaks to the success of this program, and to the strength of the law enforcement partnership between the states and the federal government.”  

Since the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program’s first authorization in 1999, it has reimbursed grantees approximately $258 million for their purchases of 1 million vests (50% match).  In 2010, the BVP program provided local police departments in Delaware with $120,000 for assistance in purchasing 502 vests. In 2009, the BVP program provided Delaware police departments with $94,000 for 588 vests.

Photos from Tuesday’s press conference are available here:  http://bit.ly/xLeY66

MP3 audio of Senator Coons’ remarks is available here: http://1.usa.gov/10RfN4L.

MP3 audio of Sgt. Spicer’s remarks is available here: http://1.usa.gov/U1ukna.

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