Officers Get New Body Armor Through Grant Program
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and Fayette County Constables are charged with providing law enforcement services within the county and oftentimes can face the hazard of being isolated in remote environments. The Sheriff’s Office provides protection for two school districts, and is also a member of a multi-agency regional tactical team which responds to incidents which can range from an armed barricaded gunman and hostage situations to search and rescues.
“We have a large transportation corridor with I-10, US Hwy 77, 90 and 290, and State Highways 71, 95, 159, and 237 traversing the county. This leaves our limited number of law enforcement officers the burden to cover large areas with limited back-up from fellow officers. Complicating the problem is that these interstates and highways are also well known and well documented corridors for the organized crimes of narcotics trafficking, human sexcrimes trafficking, and humanimmigration trafficking. These crime syndicates are often well armed and well financed,” said Craig Moreau, chief of emergency management and homeland security for the county.
“Our officers needed armor that can stop commonly carried high-power rifles and that have some level of stab resistance. This is a life-safety necessity. We were fortunate enough to apply for, and receive, grant funding through the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division Rifle-Resistant Body Armor Grant program. This allowed us to purchase ballistic vests for all members of the Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, this will allow us to use some of our existing inventory that was obtained through DPS to protect other agencies such as local police and Fayette County EMS.”
“The Department of Justice calls Interstate 10 a “super highway for human trafficking.” It’s essentially a coast-to-coast “slave route” for domestic traffickers. It’s also the closest eastwest corridor from the U.S./ Mexico border, the most common entry for international smugglers and traffickers. Fayette County Sheriff’s Department works diligently with regional, state and federal partners in interdiction and disruption programs to stem the flow of human trafficking and drugs along the I10 corridor. We are happy to have been able to support them in their fight to protect our community and our surrounding neighbors,” Moreau said.