Kimball leaders OK police department’s request to seek grant for bulletproof vests

Johnny Sisk

KIMBALL, Tenn. — In October 2014, Kimball became one of the first municipalities in Tennessee to require body cameras on all its officers after national controversies like the one in Ferguson, Mo.

Now, Kimball leaders have voted unanimously to allow the police department to apply for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership, which could help them pay for that expensive, but vital, replacement equipment.

“If there’s grant money out there, that’s free money,” Alderman Johnny Sisk said.

Kimball’s police department has received the grant a couple of times over the past several years, Sgt. Chris Webb said.

“Basically, that paid for 50 percent of whatever bulletproof vests we needed that comes due that year,” he said.