Law Enforcement Officers Appreciate Life Saving Gift From An Annual 5 K

NEW ALBANY, MISS. (WCBI) – Law enforcement officers face danger on a daily basis.  For many, a vital part of their uniform and tools is body armor.  But bulletproof vests can be expensive, especially for smaller departments. That is what prompted one organization to start a 5 K that raises money to help meet the need.

Before every shift, New Albany Police Corporal Brock White puts on his bulletproof vest.

“It’s  part of my everyday wear, that I wear with my uniform.  My uniform doesn’t go on unless I have my body armor on, that’s my number one lifeline,” CPL. White said.

Body armor can cost anywhere from $700 to $1,000, making it a luxury for some departments.

“The fact of the matter is there are a lot of jurisdictions that don’t have the luxury of having a line item that they can buy this kind of as they need it or whenever they need it,” said New Albany Police Chief Chris Robertson.

Several years ago, a group of police officers wives, started a 5 K called “Blessed are the Peacemakers”  All proceeds provide body armor for law officers across Northeast Mississippi.

Chief Robertson and his officers are grateful for the funds provided for the vests by the 5 k, the chief says it’s a good indicator of community’s support for law enforcement.

“I can’t speak about other parts of the country but I can speak about this part of Mississippi and northeast part, people here are generally supportive of law enforcement, and in almost avenue I’ve seen them be supportive, that’s a testament to the people we have living here,” Chief Robertson said.

Since it began four years ago, the  Blessed are the Peacemakers 5 k has raised enough money to buy 89 bulletproof vests.

Bulletproof vests have a lifespan of about five years.