18 days ago
Sheriff's Deputies in Dodge County will soon patrol the streets a little safer.
The department received a $6,300 grant from the Department of Justice to purchase bullet proof vests for all deputies.
Captain Tony Winborn says after Sheriff Jeff Hinson's administration took over, they observed that many deputies did not have the gear they needed to do the job safely.
He says for a small, rural department like Dodge County, it's not uncommon for officers to provide their own vests, but the new administration wanted to change that.
Winborn says they applied for the grant in the spring and found out they were awarded the money at the beginning of October.
After more than 20 years in law enforcement, Deputy Michael Taylor knows the value of a bullet proof vest.
He says, "you hate it when it happens, but people do shoot at officers and it will save officers' lives."
After starting work at the Dodge County Sheriff's Office just a few weeks ago, Taylor thought he would have to cough up his own bucks if he wanted the safety gear.
He says he was looking to buy his own vest, which would cost him about $600 to $800.
But he won't have to, now that the department received the $6,300 grant.
Captain Tony Winborn says, "It's kind of like a God send to the department, up to this point we didn't have the money in our department to buy those vests."
Winborn says currently, three Dodge County Deputies have vests that they purchased themselves.
He says they are older models, weigh about four pounds, and are not very comfortable.
With the grant money, Winborn says they will be able to outfit all 17 deputies with new, lightweight, comfortable vests.
He says, "you never know when a law enforcement officer's life will be put in danger just for doing their job."
With that in mind, Michael Taylor says having the extra layer gives him a boost of confidence on the job.
He says, "I'm looking forward to getting the vest, it is going to make me feel more comfortable out on the street."
Captain Winborn also says it one of the best tools to ensure deputies return home safely after every shift.
He says he plans to take size measurements in the next few weeks and hopes to have the vests in house by the first of the year.
Captain Winborn says the grant requires that the department match the $6,300.
He says the money will come from forfeited funds from drug cases and from private donations.
It will not come from the department's budget, and will not cost the tax payers any money.
