FEDERAL GRANT TO PROVIDE POLICE VESTS

A federal grant of almost $10,000 will help Cape Girardeau police buy bulletproof vests, but officers say it only meets part of the need.

Since the $9,552 U.S. Justice Department grant is based on receiving a 50 percent match from the city to buy vests, municipal or charitable funds are still needed to take advantage of the money, said patrolman Curtis Sessions, president of the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association.

Sessions said he has already received agreement from Chief Rick Hetzel on using some money from the association's current telemarketing campaign to match the grant.

When the association's fundraising ends in two weeks, Sessions said he is confident that they will have reached their goal of between $15,000 and $20,000. Much of this can be used to buy new vests, he said.

But other equipment needs, support for officer training and funds to buy food and gifts for the needy will also take a share, Sessions said.

A survey checking the condition of vests found that 17 need to be replaced, Cpl. Barry Hovis said. They range in age from 5 to 20 years.

Makers of the vests generally offer a 5-year warranty.

Even though a vest may be 20 years old, that doesn't mean it doesn't protect, Lt. Dale Ratliff said. The two officers' vests that are 20 years old were tested at a firing range using the same ammunition police carry, and they passed, Ratliff said.

Nevertheless, Ratliff anticipates that the department will be able to replace the 17 vests within a year's time.

Many officers would like to see the department purchase lighter weight, more expensive vests, Sessions said.

Ratliff doubts that money will be allocated for higher priced vests. The department has a contract with a St. Louis company to provide vests at $301 each. Several officers have expressed interest in models that cost about twice as much.

Purchasing the more expensive vests, which are provided to police at Southeast Missouri State University, is not financially sound, Ratliff said. It would cut down on the number of new vests that could be purchased.

"When we use public funds, we try to get the most for our dollar," he said.

But the lower cost does not cut down on quality, Ratliff said. Police in St. Louis County buy the same vests as Cape Girardeau.

Vests have received more attention from police since they became a required part of an officer's uniform late last summer.

"The problem is, few were wearing their vests before," he said.

The vests are mandatory for patrol and traffic police, as well as detectives and supervisors, Ratliff said.

Besides offering protection from most bullets, the vests give greater safety when police handle fistfights or become part of a traffic accident, Ratliff said.

335-6611 extension 122