BWC Grants Another $1 Million for Police Body Armor

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 | 0

Ohio's Bureau of Workers' Compensation this week announced another $1 million in grants for body armor for local law enforcement agencies.

The program, begun last year while Gov. Mike DeWine was state attorney general, has now pledged a total of $3.5 million to provide new bulletproof vests and to replace aging vests for local police departments, the bureau said in a bulletin.

“It is critical that law enforcement officers in Ohio have access to equipment that can help them come home to their families every day,” said DeWine. “Officers should have access to this life-saving safety gear, and by adding this extra funding to the Ohio Law Enforcement Body Armor Program, we can ensure that more officers throughout the state are protected.”

The program, which is administered by Attorney General Dave Yost, allows local law enforcement agencies to receive up to $40,000 per agency to purchase body armor vests, with a local match of 25%.

To date, BWC has approved funding for 335 law enforcement agencies, the bureau said.

Eligibility is restricted to law enforcement agencies that pay BWC premiums and have policies in good standing. Interested agencies may apply for the program through the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway.