Sergeant Michael Doyle of the Garden City Police Department, while reading through the many law enforcement publications and materials that come to the department, saw a notice about grant money from the federal government for bulletproof vests through the Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. The program was created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act, a bill supported originally by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy of the 4th Congressional District, and signed into law on June 16, 1998 by President Bill Clinton. The program allows law enforcement agencies to apply to the federal government for grant money to purchase new bulletproof vests for their officers and also to receive further grants from their states and municipalities.

Doyle applied online, requesting money toward the purchase of a total of 53 vests, one for each of the GCPD's officers. The federal government, through this grant program, will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of each vest up to a certain cap amount. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs, approves payments accounting for the high volume and dollar amounts of requests received to date, as well as the size of the departments and the population of the area being protected. New York then allows departments to apply for state funds after the federal application is filed.

The BJA has announced that $3,000 in federal grants will be awarded to the Garden City Police Department to aid in the purchase of vests. As Sergeant Doyle indicated, one bulletproof vest can run anywhere from $700 to $1,000 and the department has not yet heard from the state how much it may receive in state grants. The GCPD will then have to cover the remaining dollar amount for the 53 vests. Sgt. Doyle explained that the department can order vests through the state contract, and at this time has not determined the exact manufacturer or vest that will be ordered. When a department can find vests for less it may choose to "go off" the state contract, but Doyle commented that the state contract is "usually the cheapest" way to acquire vests.

According to the BJA, the types of vests available through this program are "those tested by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and found to meet the requirements of NIJ standard 0101.03 or any subsequent revision. Stab resistant vests standards are currently being developed by NIJ and vests tested under these new standards are expected to be available later this year. Until then, only ballistic resistant vests approved by NIJ are eligible." The BJA also says, "This program requires that each applicant provide at least 50 percent of the cost of their vests. Only federally recognized tribal governments may use other federal funds for their portion of the local funds. Federal payment will cover up to 50 percent of each jurisdiction's total costs, including all taxes and shipping and handling charges associated with the purchase. Some states also have additional programs which can help local jurisdictions."

In addition to the $3,000 approved for the Garden City Police Department, the federal government had approved $194,000 for the Nassau County Police Department toward the purchase of 3,527 vests and a supplemental grant of $1,000 for Rockville Centre Village for the purchase of 16 vests. These dollar amounts are from Fiscal Year 1999. The online application process for Fiscal Year 2000 begins in January 2000. The federal government stopped accepting applications for this fiscal year in October.

Congresswoman McCarthy commented about the grants saying, "The simple fact is that lives are saved with bulletproof vests. This money will help protect the lives of those who protect ours. I'm particularly pleased about these grants because I was an original supporter of the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act." She added, "I encourage every law enforcement agency to apply for these life-saving grants. If we can save one life, or prevent one gun victim survivor from the agony of rehabilitation and therapy, then we're that much closer to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals."

"Jurisdictions eligible to apply for funding under this program are general purpose units of local government (cities, counties, municipalities), federally recognized Indian tribes, the 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the North Mariana Islands," according to the BJA. It also explains, "The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act provides a broad definition of the term 'law enforcement officer' that means any officer, agent, or employee of a state or unit of local government or federally recognized Indian tribe authorized by law or by a government agency to prevent or investigate any violation of criminal law, or to supervise sentenced criminal offenders. This definition includes, but is not limited to, police officers, sheriff's deputies, correctional officers, parole and probation agents, and pretrial services officers."

More information can be obtained by going online to www.vests.ojp.gov.