(KAIR)--The Atchison Police Department's Special Response Team will soon be a lot safer.
Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson came before the City Commission during their meeting Monday afternoon to request approval for a bid of $21,869 to purchase new body armor for the department. Wilson says the new vests are a large upgrade from the current armor, which has been in use since 1997. In addition to having better technology to provide better protection, the new vests also gives additional protection to vitals areas such as the throat, neck, armpit, and groin areas. They will also include armor plates on the chest and back as well as multiple pockets for tools such as first aid kits, handcuffs, and ammunition.
Wilson says the vests will be funded two different ways. $10,000 will be taken from the department's equipment replacement plan, with the remainder coming from the drug seizure account. He says this account can be used because the majority of the work conducted by the Special Response Team is drug related.
The new armor will be purchased from the Southern Uniform Equipment Company which, Wilson says, not only had the best quality vest, but the cheapest as well.
The commission approved the bid 3-0.
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