Funding for bulletproof vests in Delaware

State Senators in Delaware have passed a bipartisan bill that would increase funding through the Bulletproof Vest Grant Program. The program has been implicated in the past, with $22.5 million last year used to fund about 4,000 vests in the last five years. The new bill would expand funding to $25 million.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) says “police officers risk their lives to make us safer every day, so the least we can do is ensure they are fully protected with bullet-resistant vests when they are in the line of duty.”

The bill will also make wearing the vests mandatory for officers on duty. In an effort to ensure taxpayer dollars are not misused, supporters say the bill also makes clear that those issued the grant cannot use other federal grant funds to meet the matching fund requirement under program rules.

A link to the proposed legislation can be found here: http://www.leahy.senate.gov/download/hen15073