Kentucky body armor program outfits nearly 2,000 police officers across state

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Kentucky program has outfitted nearly 2,000 police officers with body armor.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office leads the Body Armor Grant Program. According to a news release, before Coleman took office, one in five Kentucky police officers were wearing an expired vest or had no vest at all.

Last year, the General Assembly dedicated $15 million to the Attorney General's Office to create the Body Armor Grant Program. Coleman launched the program July 15, 2024 and plans to expand the shields, helmets and other protective equipment in the near future.

“We look forward to working with more Kentucky law enforcement agencies to protect the men and women who protect our families,” Coleman said in a news release. “Through this program, created by strong leaders in the General Assembly, we’re providing more than a piece of equipment. This body armor represents peace of mind for these officers, their departments, and the families who wait up for their loved ones to come home at the end of each shift.”

A ceremony was held at Northern Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial in Covington Wednesday.

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