Crime & Safety

New Milford Police Receive Money for Body Armor Vests

Over 500 N.J. law enforcement agencies benefit through state's Body Armor Replacement Fund

The New Milford Police Dpt. received $3141.43 to purchase or replace body armor vests for its officers, Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced Tuesday.

The state Division of Criminal Justice is providing nearly $3.6 million to more than 500 law enforcement agencies across New Jersey through the state's Body Armor Replacement Fund.

Chief of Police, Frank Papapietro, said that these funds come at a good time for the New Milford Police Department. "Due to general wear and tear, vests should be replaced every five years." Over the last two years the department was able to replenish vests for the majority of the 33 officers on the force. "This money will enable us to purchase the remaining vests that we need to replace," Papapietro added.

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The Body Armor Replacement Fund was established in 1998 and is paid for through a $1 surcharge on traffic tickets and forfeitures of bail. The state awarded grants to all 544 agencies that applied.

As a condition of receiving a grant, each agency must purchase vests approved the National Institute of Justice. There are hundreds of vests on the institute's list.
The cost of a vest varies depending on the model. The New Jersey State Police plan to buy vests for $759.80 apiece.

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Bergen County agencies received $265,515.24 for the vests, split among 71 agencies. The grants were as high as $38,246.92 for the Bergen County Sheriff's Office to as low as $1,266.87 for the Harrington Park Police Department.

“In these tough economic times, police are hard-pressed to find money for new equipment,” said the state Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor. “This $3.6 million in funding will help to ensure that one of their most crucial pieces of equipment—lifesaving body armor—will not be outdated and worn out when our officers hit the streets to protect New Jersey residents.”


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