Duty vests redistribute the weight of gear from the duty belt of officers, and over time have been shown to reduce back and hip injuries. Making the switch to bulletproof duty vests can be costly but the Department of Justice (DOJ) has a grant program that can help.

The DOJ gave away over $18 million in 2015 as part of their Bulletproof Vest Partnership, with $974,711.21 going to 160 different California jurisdictions. While you may already be aware of this program, a new way to leverage this funding source would be to purchase bulletproof duty vests.

The application period opens annually in April and closes six weeks later. Jurisdictions can apply each year for new or replacement equipment, but must only purchase one vest per officer during the jurisdiction’s stated replacement cycle.

For more information please visit the DOJ website or contact the Loss Prevention Department at (916) 850-7300.