Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison today announced the donation of nine pallets containing more than 750 decommissioned bulletproof vests to be sent to Ukraine to aid forces during the war with Russia.
This is not the first time the SCPD has donated ballistic vests. In 2004, the Suffolk County Police Department donated hundreds of decommissioned vests to line vulnerable Humvees, that were not otherwise armored, in Iraq, making the vehicles safer for soldiers.
Additionally, Iraqi Police were also outfitted with decommissioned SCPD vests. Many Humvees and other military vehicles are not fully armored, but covered with lightweight aluminum and fiberglass.
Consequently, they are vulnerable to rocket-propelled grenades, roadside bombs and small arms fire. These vests are used on vehicle doors and floors to catch shrapnel.
