Fort Worth Police Receive Big Donation For Bulletproof Vests
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A Fort Worth company is donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to help police officers.
As part of the "Protect the Fort" initiative launching today, the Mallick Group is buying 900 ballistic vests for front line and graduating recruits at a cost of about $355,000.
Assistant Chief Ed Kraus says the vests became a priority after the Dallas police shootings in July.
"Nationally law enforcement deaths are up significantly from last year. Deaths of police officer by firearms is up 70 percent from what they were in 2015," he said.
The hope is the gift from the Fort Worth energy and real estate company will drive people to, protectthefort.com and that generosity will abound to help protect police officers.
Police chief Joel Fitzgerald says sadly, the high velocity ballistic protection they provide is necessary, and will be distributed to front line officers in an effort to better protect them while they serve our community.
"Law enforcement, the only domestic job where we can save a life or take a life, a rifle resistant vest donation increases our officers chance of returning home safely to their loved ones, while doing their jobs," he says.
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