SUGAR LAND, Texas–Thanks to Houston FCU, the Sugar Land Police Department will purchase an additional 27 active-shooter ballistic vests, adding to a planned acquisition intended to protect officers from people using high-powered rifles.
Houston FCU is donating $11,475 to the police department.
"Across the nation, tension remains high between citizens and law enforcement officers,” said Police Chief Doug Brinkley in a statement. “According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the number of officers killed by gunfire in 2016 has increased by 75%, raising the total to 28. On July 8, 2016, this statistic rose drastically when a gunman killed five police officers in Dallas. More commonly, active shooters are using high-powered rifles, such as the AK47, to inflict injury.”
Sugar Land police currently use a standard vest approved by the National Institute of Justice, but it is not equipped to provide protection from high-powered rifles. The new ballistic vests will be worn on top of officers’ standard vests.