LAW ENFORCEMENT | ENSURING SAFETY

Smith County Sheriff’s deputies stood in formation in front of Lone Star Church Friday to honor Gov. Greg Abbott’s request for all Texas law enforcement officers to turn on their red and blue lights for one minute at 10 a.m. Friday.

Abbott issued the statewide call for the public to stand with law enforcement officers and honor all peace officers across the state to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack that left five Dallas law enforcement officers dead and seven wounded.

The deadly ambush by a lone gunman during what organizers had hoped would be a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas left many wondering how they could help their local law enforcement agencies.

That’s when State Sen. Kevin Eltife got the idea to start the “We Back Our Law Enforcement Campaign,” which funded the purchase of 300 rifle-resistant vests for all officers with the Tyler Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office started issuing their new Level III rifle-rated ballistic plates and tactical vests acquired through the campaign.

Eltife started the public/private campaign in September 2016 to raise the money needed to purchase the vests.

After speaking with Tyler Police Chief Jimmy Toler, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith and other rank-and-file officers, Eltife learned one of the biggest ways to make the officers feel safer would be to provide each with rifle-resistant vests, which are used during active shooter situations or during high-risk events, and are not part of an officer’s daily uniform.

The entire campaign for Tyler and Smith County cost about $204,000. Half of that came from the community.

The sheriff’s office needed 81 vests and the constables, 17. At nearly $700 each, the county’s vests cost roughly $68,000, Eltife told commissioners. The county’s contribution was estimated to be $34,000.

The total cost to provide the vests to the Tyler Police Department was $135,800, according to city officials. The city paid $67,900, half of the cost of the 198 vests that were needed.

“I researched different vests and got with other departments to see what they were using,” Sgt. Justin Stockwell said. “We narrowed it down to two that were the most functional. We were able to get some demo vests and see if they were going to work for us.”

The sheriff’s office decided on the 5.11 Tactical vests that weigh about 10 pounds with the front and back Level III plates inserted. The plates are warranteed for up to 10 years.

With the $204,000 the sheriff’s office was able to purchase 18 additional tactical vests for the SWAT team.

“The vests are designed to be easily pulled on if a situation arises where extra ballistic protection is needed,” Captain Jeremy Black said. “They’re meant to be put on during an active shooter situation or if a suspect is barricaded and there is the threat of a rifle being used against an officer.”

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