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Salem cops get updated safety vests

Daniel Farinelli, left, owner/vice president of Blue Line LTD, a local public safety equipment supplier from North Lima, helps Salem police officers adjust the sizing of their new bulletproof vests from Armor Express. Officers include, from left, Sgt. Danny Green, Sgt. Karl Toy, Patrolman Ryan Connolly and Patrolman Rob Keister. (Salem News photo by Mary Ann Greier)

SALEM — Salem police officers gained some proven protection this week in the form of new bulletproof vests from Armor Express that they saw in action during a demonstration last summer.

“It’s all about officer safety and officers going home after their shifts,” Chief J.T. Panezott said Thursday.

Daniel Farinelli, owner/vice president of Blue Line LTD, a local public safety equipment supplier from North Lima, came to the department to make some adjustments in the sizing of the vests, which actually consist of a vest holder and armor plates.

A grant from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation covered 75 percent of the cost, with $17,309 coming from the grant for 29 vests. The rest came from the police budget.

The current bulletproof vests, purchased in 2014, are five years old.

During the demonstration in August at the Lt. Charles “Chaz” Shafer Salem Police Department Range on Pennsylvania Avenue, a representative of Armor Express fired shots from all types of weapons at the plate used in the vests and noted nothing penetrated to the other side.

“They’re very lightweight and more comfortable for the officers,” Panezott said.

The outside carrier can be used to hold other items that are normally on an officer’s duty belt, too, taking some weight off of the belt and putting it on the vest, which is better for the officers and better for their backs.

He noted that it’s also easier to take the vests on and off.

In other action this week for the police department, Panezott said officers are completing their night time shooting training. He said Sgt. Karl Toy had them moving during the low-light shooting drills.

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