Police order new bullet proof vests

The Batesville Police Dept. will soon take delivery of seven standard body armor ballistic vests, complete with carriers and trauma plates.
Cost of the vests is $5,311 and will be purchased from Mid South Uniform and Supply under state contract pricing.
Chief Jimmy McCloud told board members the Bullet Proof Vest Program, of which the department is a member, will reimburse the city half the cost after the vests are received.
McCloud said the seven vests will replace older equipment currently being used. Vests manufacturers recommend police replace the units after five years of normal wear. With daily use and exposure to heat and rain, vests material can begin breaking down after five years, they say.
All Batesville policemen working on the streets are required to wear vests at all times, McCloud said. “We have had that policy for a while now. It’s just better to be safe than sorry.”