Smith County Body Armor On Display

TYLER – Last year, after the death of 5 Dallas police officers, State Senator Kevin Eltife started the “We Back Our Law Enforcement” Campaign. It was to raise funds for body armor vests for law enforcement. Smith County sheriff’s deputies and constables showed off 97 rifle resistant vests Friday. The vests, which will also go to Tyler policemen, cost $204,000. The city and county will pay a portion of the cost. The rest came from the community. The goal was to raise $104,000. But the community drive exceeded that goal.

Sheriff’s department Captain Jeremy Black appreciates the community’s support. He says “It is absolutely awesome to work in an area where we just don’t have the negativity against law enforcement that we see in other areas of the country.” He says, hopefully, these vests will never have to be worn. But they will be available anytime a theat exists to where the officers think that there is a rifle involved and they need to use them.