Cranberry Police Get Bulletproof Vests with Help from Federal Grant

is one of 315 police jurisdictions in the state to receive grant money through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership program, U.S. Rep Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, announced Wednesday.

Cranberry police will receive about $2,450 through the program, which helps local enforcement agencies buy bulletproof vests. Sgt. Chuck Mascellino said the money would be used to reimburse the department for about half the cost of six bulletproof vests purchased for officers. Four of those vests already are being used in the department. The other two are ordered and should arrive at the station soon.

Mascellino said each of the vests costs $850. The new vests went to officers who were due to have their vests replaced. The average life span of the vest is about five years, he said.

He said the Cranberry department has been involved in the federal program for several years. He was pleased the program would pay for a portion of the vests.

“Anything we can get back to reimburse the township is good,” he said.

Altmire said the Fourth Congressional District received $64,850 in funds to supply police officers in 30 jurisdictions with 261 new vests.

“The BVP provides one of the most critical resources we can give to local law enforcement,” Altmire said. “Many communities, including these in western Pennsylvania, can’t afford to provide police officers with these life-saving vests, so support from the federal government is crucial. As local law enforcement continues to battle crime, I will continue to work with them to ensure they have access to every available resource to protect themselves and our communities.”

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 has provided about 800,000 vests to more than 13,000 police jurisdictions across the country. For a complete list of award recipients, click here.