Hancock County Sheriff’s Office granted money for new vests

HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. ( WTRF ) – The Department of Justice awarded $5.2 million (DOJ) in grant funding to law enforcement agencies throughout West Virginia, and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office is among the recipients.

LINK: West Virginia Sheriff Departments receive grants for new cruisers and equipment upgrades

Sheriff Scott Gittings says they were awarded around $15,000 and they plan to use the money to buy 25 new ballistic vests.

The current vests deputies wear are around five years old and have a January 2025 expiration date.

Sheriff Gittings says these new vests will have updated technology that will better protect his deputies.

“The manufacturers measure everyone, that’s how they do it because everybody’s a little different. I mean, they measure different points of the body, and they make sure the vest is covering certain areas so it’s going to be functional. Technology has changed a lot in five years, so they’re part of the higher level and about better threat level, better protection.”

Sheriff Scott Gittings | Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

This is a matching grant for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, with the total cost of new vests being about $33,000.

Sheriff Gittings says Hancock County Commission approved the funds on Wednesday, Sept. 11 and the order was placed the next day. He expects it will be a few months before the deputies get their news vests.

“The tools are the important thing of the job. If you don’t have the right tools and the right technology, we can’t perform our job the best for our citizens.”

Sheriff Scott Gittings | Hancock County Sheriff’s Office

The funding provided by the DOJ comes from The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program.

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