Federal grant funds bulletproof vests

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake Police Department was authorized to accept federal grant assistance in replacing bulletproof vests.

Moses Lake Police Chief Dean Mitchell told Moses Lake City Council members last week his department applies annually for a grant from the Bulletproof Vest Program.

This year's award was $5,101, which will fund about a quarter of the total cost of new vests purchased in 2011, Mitchell said.

"The vests we issue our officers have a warranty life of five years," he explained. "Each year we rotate, sometimes replacing seven vests, sometimes replacing five vests."

The vests cost about $2,000 apiece, he added.