Title
Consideration of and action on the application submission and approving the acceptance of a grant through the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act.
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Summary:
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP), created by the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 is a unique United States Department of Justice initiative designed to provide a critical resource to state and local law enforcement. The purpose of the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) program is to reimburse states, counties, federally recognized tribes, cities, and local jurisdictions up to 50% of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers. Currently, more than 1,600 vests makes and models meet the standards for grant coverage.
Since 1999, the BVP program has reimbursed more than 13,000 jurisdictions, a total of $573 million in federal funds for the purchase of over 1.5 million vests (1,500,000). BVP is a critical resource for state and local jurisdictions that saves lives. Based on data collected and recorded by the Office of Justice Programs, since FY 2015, protective vests were directly attributable to saving the lives of at least 305-law enforcement and corrections officers. Forty-three of those vests were purchased, in part, with BVP funds. The Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers the BVP Program.
The Police Department anticipates purchasing eighteen (19) pieces of body armor next budget year. We expect to recover $10,640 in the 2027/2028 budget.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
The total cost of purchasing 19 vests is $21,280, with $10,640 of that being absorbed by the BVP Grant. The City of Deer Park will incur a total cost of $10,640.
Recommended Action
Approve the application submission and approving the acceptance of a grant through the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act.