Perrysburg looks for grant to buy new bullet-proof vests for police

In Perrysburg, police are occasionally summoned because there is a bat in a house or an elderly woman needs help turning off her car lights.

In his 17 years with the Perrysburg Police Department, Chief Daniel Paez does not recall a time when a city officer was shot at.

But the dangers of law enforcement are real, he pointed out.

That’s why the city requires all police officers on the road to wear bullet-proof vests, which can protect them from a thrown punch or airborn debris inside their patrol cars if they are in a crash.

“They are a protector of the officer,” said Chief Paez about the vests.

Earlier this week, Perrysburg City Council voted unanimously to seek a federal grant that would split the cost for replacing ballistic vests.

The U.S. Department of Justice grant would cover the $5,500 cost if the city replaced 14 vests for $11,000.

The chief said he is optimistic the city will win the grant, pointing to the fact that the city has won the two-year grant since 2002. The current grant is set to expire at the end of this year.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make it,” he said.

Contact Gabrielle Russon at grusson@theblade.com or 419-351-0361 or on Twitter @GabrielleRusson.