Adam Robison | Buy at photos.djournal.com
Glenn Yeatman, a Chickasaw County Sheriff’s deputy, is sized for a bullet-resistant vest by Terry Dahlem of Mid-South Uniform of Jackson on Wednesday morning at the Lee County Sheriff’s office in Tupelo.
Adam Robison | Buy at photos.djournal.com
A special fitting vest was used to measure each officer to determine the proper fit to make sure protective panels covered the vital organs.
By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO – A 5K organized last fall in Tupelo raised more than enough money to provide protective vests to 16 law enforcement officers across the region.
Kim Rushing of Tupelo founded the Wives of Warriors support group two years ago. The second annual Blessed are the Peacemakers Run raised more than $16,000.
“The vests cost about $750 each and some smaller agencies can’t afford them,” Rushing said. “We selected agencies who supported the run first, then our members started nominating other agencies.
“We ended up with about 50 nominations, but only had enough money to buy 16 vests.”
The police and sheriff’s offices receiving the body armor ranged from Benton County to Burnsville to Chickasaw County to Kosciusko. Officers from each of the agencies were in Tupelo Wednesday getting measured by Terry Dahlem of Mid-South Uniforms of Jackson.
“It is important that each vest is properly fitted for each officer, not only to make it comfortable but also to ensure maximum coverage by the protective panels,” Dahlem said. “It’s not bullet-proof, but it is designed to give the maximum protection available.”
For some officers, this will be their first vest, fitted just for them.
Adam Robison | Buy at photos.djournal.com
Booneville officer Marsenio Nunn is fitted for a body armor vest.
“I’ve been an officer for 21 years, and this is my first one,” said Terry Westbrook of the Shannon Police Department. “The department has some older vests, but it’s hard to find one big enough for me.”
Larger departments with more significant budgets purchase vests on a regular basis. Sometimes, the older, used vests are donated to smaller departments.
“We have some old vests, but they are oversized and don’t fit me,” said Burnsville Police officer Brandon Slack. “I am really excited about this. Anything that helps an officer get home safe at night is appreciated.”
The third Blessed are the Peacemakers 5K run will take place Sept. 24.
william.moore@journalinc.com
