21 Jul PRESS RELEASE
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS A PROACTIVE GRANT TO THE MARION POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PROTECTIVE BODY ARMOR The Community Foundation of Grant County, Indiana, Inc. will award a proactive grant for $13,600 tonight at Marion’s Concert in the Park event to the Marion Police Department for the purchase of protective body armor (rifle plates and carriers) for their 68 police officers. Executive Director Dawn Brown stated, “After a few conversations with Chief Haley and Deputy Chief Kenworthy, I learned of MPD’s need to upgrade their current body armor. Essentially, soft body armor vests are excellent for fragmentation and pistol protection but will not stop rifle bullets; therefore there was a pressing need to provide iron rifle plates and the carriers or vests that have the necessary pockets for such plates. Police work is growing increasingly dangerous in times such as this. Therefore, as a demonstration of confidence and support in our local law enforcement agencies, the Community Foundation utilized the entire balance of the Law Enforcement Safety Fund as well as an additional grant from the Irving Family Fund to fulfil the current need of the Marion Police Department.” Thankfully, in 1993, donor Bill Jackson established the Law Enforcement Safety Fund for the sole purpose...