Piggott P.D. gets new bulletproof vests

Working in the field of law enforcement, the members of the Piggott Police Department remain a mere moment from finding themselves in harm's way. Though small communities such as Piggott often take pride in not having the level of crime found in larger cities, the danger faced by the PPD is very real. Last week, the department took an important stride in protecting its officers with the purchase of new bulletproof vests.

"A vest gives an officer the confidence that it's going to stop a bullet somebody shoots at him," police chief Bill Alstadt said. "It's one of the tools that helps us do our jobs. You never know what you're going to encounter out

there."

Each officer was measured so that a vest could be tailormade to fit as comfortably as possible. The vests previously

used by the PPD had been in service for the past five years. "These vests are lightweight," Alstadt said. "They

still have the same level of protection, but they're lighter and let you move around better. Our old vests needed to

be replaced. They're good for about five years, but then you've got to replace them because they start to wear out

from being used."

Funding for the vests was made available through federal grants received by the city and funds provided by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police. Because of this assistance, no city or department funds were required

for the vests.

The new vests are upgradeable. They feature sleeves in the front and the back which protect the wearer's heart. These sleeves can hold armor of different strengths, offering protection from small caliber weapons all the way up to high-powered rifles.

These new, improved vests will allow the PPD to continue to have a higher level of protection for years to come.

"Wearing these vests can save an officer's life," Alstadt said. "It's that simple. You've got more protection with it on than you'd have without it."