Central Texas police officers are need of life-saving equipment. Small cities are struggling to find room in the budget for bullet resistant vests.
Rollingwood Police Chief Dayne Pryor spends the majority of his time in his office, where there isn't much need for a bullet resistant vest, but with so few officers, he sometimes finds himself in a patrol car.
"If we need shift coverage, I will still go out,” he said.
He had a frightening experience on one of those shifts.
"When you’re wearing the vest, you're talking about how hot it is and how uncomfortable it feels, but the first time I stopped a car and didn't feel that on me, that was a worse feeling,” said Pryor.
Pryor recently passed on his chance to replace his long-expired vest to make sure his officers were protected.
"A police officer should never have to worry about whether or not they're going to get a vest or not,” he said.
Several small Central Texas police departments are making sacrifices.
Jonestown needs eight vests. Luling just hired four officers who as of now will have to go without. Hutto needs three vests. Smithville needs five right now and within one year will need five more. Lockhart needs three right now and will need five next year.
Ginger MacMicking, executive vice president of the Central Texas 100 Club, is collecting donations to purchase vests. She has a long way to go. The vests range in price from $600 to $1,000.
"There's just no reason why the officer out there serving our community can't have the protection they need,” she said. "I just feel an urgency that we need to get these guys and gals protected."
Chief Pryor has applied for a 100 Club grant. He will use the money to cover the vests purchase last year. Then, it's anyone's guess how he'll pay for the next batch, which includes one for him.
"We're thankful for anything you can get,” said Pryor.
If you would like to donate, call the 100 Club at 512-345-3200. You can also go to their website and pay with a credit card.
