A federal grant awarded to the Morgantown Police Department will boost the city's general fund by about $6,000.
The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance notified city officials of the award Friday. It will cover half the cost of 22 ballistic vests the police department plans to purchase this fiscal year for $12,000.
Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston said each of the department's 62 officers is equipped with a bulletproof vest that is worn every day.
"It's a piece of standard equipment, just like their firearm or their badge," he said.
Preston said bulletproof vests are replaced every four years, when the manufacturer's warranty expires. They're made of synthetic materials, such as Kevlar, that break down over time, he said.
The replacement schedule for Morgantown police officers is staggered, to make it more manageable, and the vests are destroyed once they're replaced.
The $6,000 reimbursement will go into the city's general fund. Morgantown Finance Director J.R. Sabatelli said the money hasn't been allocated yet, but it will likely be used as needed for other police department expenditures.
"With a $24 million budget [for the city], every little bit helps," Sabatelli said.
Copyright 2011 - The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
