The Jemison Police Department received a $27,500 safety grant recently from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

Jemison Police Chief Brian Stilwell said $5,300 of the grant was spent getting the Jemison officers new bulletproof vests.

“We bought 10 new vests for the officers to have with them in case of an emergency,” he said.

The new vests are outer tactical vests, which means the officers can wear them over regular clothing.

According to Stilwell, the department has always worn inner bulletproof vests, meaning the officers would have to be dressed with the vests under their clothing if they were going to wear one. With outer tactical vests, however, officers will be better suited for an emergency that may include gunfire.

“With the officers being able to put the new vests on over their clothes, they can be safe if they are called to an emergency on an off day or during a time when they would otherwise not have their inner vest on,” Stilwell said.

The outer vest also has slots for equipment such as radios, flashlights and cuffs, giving the officer a chance to carry equipment when not wearing a gun belt.