$22,500 grant funds body armor for North East ISD Police Department officers

Law enforcement officers in the North East Independent School District Police Department will receive new body armor courtesy of a grant offered through a body armor safety initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The $22,750 grant will help fund the purchase of bulletproof vests for 70 police officers in the North East ISD police department, said district Police Chief Wallace McCampbell.

The safety initiative, called the Bulletproof Vest Partnership, reimburses qualified law enforcement agencies up to 50 percent of the cost of body armor. The grant will reduce the department’s body armor expenses by half.

North East was one of eight public school districts to be awarded the grant this year; it was the only school district in Bexar County to receive it.

“Our number one priority is the security of our children.” McCampbell said. “We will continue to seek strategies, techniques and funding to keep our officers equipped with updated equipment, supplies and training.”

The North East school district has implemented a series of security features over the years, including a buzz-in system at schools, an on-the-spot criminal background check of school visitors, metal detectors at athletic events to name a few.