Ten steel-plated ballistic vests were purchased for firefighters who work dangerous scenes, such as shootings, with Daviess County Fire Department. DCFD Chief Jeremy Smith said the purchasing of these vests has been in the works for three years.
The vests were purchased through Daviess County Fiscal Court funding and approved at last week’s meeting.
“We have been coordinating with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department and training with them, and these vests will be used for shootings and things,” Smith said. “We’ve put a rescue task force together that coordinates with the sheriff’s department to get into buildings quicker, to get [rescue assistance] to patients quicker.”
The rescue task force is made up of ten career firefighters who have began training with DCSO, and can now begin training with the protective vests.
Fiscal Court accepted the lowest bid of three in purchasing the 10 vests from First Spear for $10,925. The steel-plated vests were within the budget, Smith said.
With this purchase, both city and county fire departments have protective vests that can be used during dangerous situations. The Owensboro Fire Department announced the purchase of 30 ballistic vests two weeks ago.
