Ricki Gardenhire
(502) 573-2382

Frankfort, Ky. – Gov. Paul Patton and Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) Commissioner Jody A. Lassiter announced today the awarding of funds for 182 bulletproof vests and four canine vests to 27 police agencies that made applications through the Kentucky Body Armor Program, which is administered by DLG.

Commissioner Lassiter said with this round of funding, more than $683,000 has been awarded to city and county police and sheriff departments, and public universities throughout Kentucky. “These dollars have the purchasing power to invest in about 1,763 vests that will provide protection for Kentucky’s law enforcement professionals.”

Eleven city police departments, 13 county sheriff departments and three universities will share $73,216 to purchase the vests at $388 each.

            Funding for the Kentucky Body Armor program is provided by the sale of police-confiscated firearms to licensed firearm dealers. The program is a collaborative effort by DLG, the agency that processes the applications for vests; the Kentucky State Police, the agency that catalogs the weapons; and the Division of Surplus Equipment, the agency that conducts the auctions.

The following list includes agencies that have been awarded funds and the number of vests these funds will purchase:

• Barbourville Police -- 15
• Bourbon County Sheriff  -- 8
• Boyd County Sheriff -- 4
• Breckinridge County Sheriff -- 10
• Butler County Sheriff -- 9
• Butler Police -- 1
• Cadiz Police -- 4
• Clark County Sheriff -- 10
• Daviess County Sheriff -- 8 + 3 canine vests
• Dawson Springs Police -- 3
• Estill County Sheriff -- 2
• Ft. Thomas Police -- 8
• Green County Sheriff -- 3
• Hickman County Sheriff -- 6
• Hopkinsville Police -- 8 + 1 canine vest
• Knox County Sheriff -- 9
• Lone Oak Police -- 5
• McCreary County Sheriff -- 11
• Mortons Gap Police -- 1
• Murray State University -- 1
• Northern Kentucky University -- 5
• Princeton Police -- 15
• Shelby County Sheriff -- 10
• Shively Police -- 6
• University of Louisville -- 3
• Whitley County Sheriff -- 16
• Wingo Police -- 1

A committee of representatives from DLG, the Kentucky State Police, the

 Department for Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, the Kentucky League of Cities,

the Fraternal Order of Police and the Federal Bulletproof Vest program reviews the

applications and recommends approval. Funding decisions are based on available resources

that counties and cities have in purchasing police equipment. The committee also ensures that

allocations are made in all geographic areas of the state.

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