New Eagle: Council hears update on bulletproof vest drive
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
A fundraiser to help the Monongahela Police Department purchase bulletproof vests is still ongoing.
The Monongahela Area Revitalization Corp. and the city police department started raising money in March, a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down most businesses in the Mon Valley.
Chief Kevin Harris said 15 officers currently do not have bulletproof vests that comply with current National Institute of Justice standards.
New vests cost between $800 and $1,200, depending on the level of soft-body armor that is purchased. To date, the department has raised more than $1,000.
Monongahela received $6,569 in federal funding this year through the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant, which can be used to pay up to 50% of each vest.
Harris told New Eagle council Tuesday that the department hopes to raise at least $5,000 more to supply matching funds to the federal grant awarded to the cause.
MARC has a separate account to collect corporate and private donations to assist the department in the effort.
Checks can be sent to MARC at 102 Baywood Drive, Monongahela, PA 15063 and earmarked for the Police Vest Fund.
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