MURRAY – Officers with the Murray Police Department now have an added layer of protection in the field. On Friday, the agency issued hard body armor to every officer on the force, and thanks to the Kentucky Attorney General’s Body Armor Grant Program, MPD was able to acquire the new equipment – which helps shield officers from rifle fire – at no cost.

“First off, safety of the officers is always going to be a priority to us,” Murray Police Chief Samuel Bierds said. “To get over $58,000 worth of armor delivered to us … and have it issued and out on the street with absolutely no general funds needed, no costs to the city, it’s a game-changer for a department of our size.”

MPD already equipped officers with soft body armor and an outer vest carrier. The new rifle plates are designed to work with the soft body armor and are worn inside the carriers, Public Information Officer Captain Andrew Wiggins explained. The plates, which markedly increase the ability to stop larger rounds of ammunition without adding much weight, will be worn by officers at all times; however, because they are inserted, the public should not notice any visible difference in officers’ appearance.

Historically, because MPD could not afford to purchase hard armor for the entire force, if MPD officers wanted rifle protection, they had to purchase it themselves – either out of pocket or with their uniform allowance.

During the 2024 legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill 6, which, among other things, appropriated $15 million over two years to Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office for the purpose of creating the Body Armor Grant Program. At the time, according to a July press release from Coleman’s office, one in five law enforcement officers in Kentucky either wore vests that were expired or had no vest to wear.

The program, which is administered by the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations, was launched in July 2024, with a goal of equipping all of Kentucky’s law enforcement officers with body armor.

“The General Assembly’s $15 million investment in the Body Armor Grant Program – $5 million in the first year and $10 million in the second – reflects the Kentucky General Assembly’s strong, ongoing support for law enforcement,” said Senator Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights) in the release, which characterized his role as chair of the appropriations committee as being “critical” to securing the funds necessary for the program.

“These targeted, fiscally responsible funds will help equip and train our police officers with the protection they need as they confront criminal threats and work to keep our communities safe,” he added.

One year later, nearly 2,000 of the commonwealth’s officers, deputies and troopers had been either fitted or equipped with body armor through the program.

“We look forward to working with more Kentucky law enforcement agencies to protect the men and women who protect our families,” Coleman said in his office’s release. “Through this program, created by strong leaders in the General Assembly, we’re providing more than a piece of equipment. This body armor represents peace of mind for these officers, their departments, and the families who wait up for their loved ones to come home at the end of each shift.”   

Bierds praised the program, noting the ease and efficiency of the application process and an impressive turnaround time – approximately six weeks after receiving notification of the award, the department received the new equipment, enough to issue a front and back plate to each officer, including administrators.

Although MPD officers, fortunately, do not face individuals who are armed with rifles on a regular basis, Bierds noted that rifles are often the weapon of choice for those attempting a mass shooting event, and soft body armor does not provide protection against rifle shots.

“It’s not designed for that; soft body armor is designed for handgun protection,” he explained. “This rifle armor essentially makes our police department better equipped to respond to an active shooter situation and to be able to go into a situation like that with additional protection that they won’t have to don before riding in.”

By way of example, Bierds hearkened back to January 2021, when 19-year-old Kya Nelson contacted MPD from his home in Wisconsin, making false claims about an active shooter incident at Murray High School. Bierds was one of the responding officers that morning, but before he could enter the school, he had to retrieve his rifle plates from the trunk of his cruiser and strap both of the solid steel plates – each weighing nearly 20 pounds – over his uniform, wasting precious seconds in the process.

“So, having this lightweight armor that works in combination with the soft body armor (and is) something they can wear every day is just going to save seconds on a critical response like that,” he added. “I’m really excited about that potential as well.”

Last week’s shipment only provided enough body armor to outfit existing officers, and as Bierds noted, the department is not fully staffed at this time. Anticipating hiring new officers in the next month or two, he reached out to one of the program assistants and was relieved to learn that he will simply submit a new request for the amount needed, and once the request is processed, the equipment will be sent out.

The chief also noted that new recruits still have to attend the police academy and complete other training courses before they are put into the field, which will give the program time to process the new request.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the program,” Bierds said. “I couldn’t be more pleased with how simple the AG’s office has made the application and the actual grant process itself. It’s one of those rare grants where it seems that the grant administrators are ready to get the items into the hands of the people who need it most.

“It’s a good day for law enforcement agencies in the state, and I think it’s a good thing for Murray – not only are we getting increased protection for our officers, but we’re getting it at no cost to city general funds, which is just amazing.”