DeWine: Buy officers new body armor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine wants the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to spend $5.75 million to outfit many law enforcement officers with new ballistic vests.
DeWine, Ohio’s attorney general, unveiled the proposal Monday as his office moves to complete replacing the expired vests of more than 50 agents at his Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
“Workplace safety is part of the mission of our workers’ compensation system,” DeWine said in a statement. “Many police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state are suffering a financial pinch from the opioid crisis ... we need to ensure that the officers of these departments have state-of-the-art protection.”
DeWine’s announcement came on the eve of a key political endorsement vote by the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. Members are scheduled to vote on the union’s favored candidates Tuesday at their annual conference in Independence. The FOP endorsed DeWine’s gubernatorial opponent, Democrat Richard Cordray, in 2010 when DeWine narrowly wrested the attorney general’s office away from Cordray.
DeWine said his office his discussing a vestreplacement program with officials at the workers’ compensation bureau, which already provides grants to fire departments to purchase protective clothing for firefighters.
The bureau recently announced it was setting aside $4 million each over two years for Ohio police agencies and schools as part of its safety grant program.
“We are still working with stakeholders to determine how best to use these grant dollars and what will be eligible for funding,” said Anthony Gottschlich, spokesman for the workers’ compensation bureau. DeWine said the bureau has enough money to buy nearly $6 million in vests.
The bureau intends for some of the money to go toward body armor for officers, said another spokesman, Bill Teets.
DeWine said he became aware of the need for keeping officers in suitable ballistic vests due to an in-house problem at his office.
The union representing BCI agents filed a complaint this spring that 53 agents were wearing vests that had passed their five-year life span despite pleas for their replacement.
All affected BCI agents who are not on leave have been fitted and their new vests are on order, said Dan Tierney, spokesman for the attorney general’s office.
Cordray campaign spokesman Michael Gwin said: “Mike DeWine allowed his own officers to wear expired vests ... His office only took action when the media controversy risked hurting his campaign for governor. So it’s not surprising that DeWine waited until this point in an election year to make this belated proposal. Ohioans deserve a governor who sees the safety of our law enforcement officers as a priority — not just another political gimmick.”